Police on Tuesday unveiled Traffic Commander, a new traffic-management system that combines cameras, drones, motorcycle officers and conventional traffic police in an effort to prevent congestion before it spirals into gridlock.
The system operated on a pilot basis during the summer, but faces its first major test when schools reopen in the coming days. Officials estimate it will handle about 50,000 traffic incidents a day, with more than 138 officers deployed from a central operations center and on roads.
Its hub is the upgraded traffic monitoring center at police headquarters, where data from 24 sources, including road cameras, construction updates and accident reports, are analyzed. Ten drones will monitor the Athens basin and guide responses during peak hours.
Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said the goal is a 25 to 30% gain in travel time. Experts welcomed the initiative but said relief will also require road upgrades, modernized signals, limits on private-car use and stronger public transport.
