The new traffic surveillance system in Attica has been fully implemented, with so-called “smart cameras” already recording offences and sending the first fines to drivers. Their operation marks a new era in the control of road behaviour, as the process is now digital and automated.
Demosthenes Anagnostopoulos, the secretary general of Information Systems and Digital Governance, spoke to Mega about the issue.
As he explained, the specific cameras have already been activated and record violations such as violating red lights, speeding, not wearing a seat belt or helmet, as well as using a mobile phone while driving.
“Smart cameras with artificial intelligence can detect offences, i.e. those that a traffic cop would detect. Violations that have to do with red lights, speeding, but even more so if one is not wearing a seatbelt or helmet, if one is driving and using a mobile phone. And in cases where these violations are detected, then one takes a picture from the camera, which is subsequently examined by the traffic police.”
According to the procedure, each recorded violation is first checked by the traffic police and then the relevant notice is sent digitally to the citizen, either through his personal gov.gr wallet or through Gov.gr Wallet.
If the offender does not proceed to repay the fine within ten days or does not file an objection, then the debt is forwarded to the AADE and is ascertained as normal.
The same digital model is already being applied in other cases, such as vehicles that are uninsured or have not paid road tax, with around 300,000 notices having been sent.
Special mention was also made of the issue of cybersecurity, with the authorities drawing citizens’ attention against phishing messages, which attempt to extract personal data or lead to dangerous links. Citizens are urged to avoid such actions and enter official websites, such as gov.gr and aade.gr, directly.
“We have to be very cautious when the messages come in. Those who are being sneaky are sending messages either on mobile phone or email, underneath the message says click here in order to go to an address and continue to pay whatever you have to do. Here everyone should look into this address if it is correct. But because these addresses are I would say many times somewhat quite similar to the real ones, what the citizen should do is not to visit these addresses, go to the normal address of an institution, that is to go to gov.gr.”
At the same time, it was announced that from Monday, the platform for Fuel Pass applications through vouchers.gov.gr will be opened from Monday. The process will be carried out without bureaucracy, as no additional documents are required, and the amounts will be paid to beneficiaries within two days.
