Traffic congestion in Attica is getting worse, costing the region tens of millions of euros in lost productivity, and significantly reducing the quality of life for its residents.

Data from TomTom Traffic Index for 2024 reveals that the average driver in Athens lost approximately 111 hours in 2024 due to traffic congestion. This is a notable increase of about 6.7% from the 104 hours lost in 2023, and translates to just over 4 and a half straight days stuck in traffic each year.

And it’s not just the time wasted on the way to the beach. Being stuck in traffic translates to tens of millions of lost working hours every year, negatively impacting productivity.

In an interview in the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Thanasis Tsianos, President of the Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers said that delays on Kifissos Avenue alone inflict annual economic damage to the tune of about €90 million ($104 million).

According to Tsianos, the current state of affairs in Attica is the result of shortcomings that have accumulated since 2008, such as the degradation of Athens’ public transport system because of the Greek economic crisis.

Key roads are now exceeding their saturation limits — Kifissos Avenue records over 260,000 daily transits, while Attiki Odos has reached approximately 280,000 daily transits, a 20% increase since 2022.

Tsianos proposes a three-pronged approach to address Attica’s transportation crisis.

First, Attica’s public transport network must become denser and more reliable. Secondly, Attica’s peripheral road networks must be upgraded to reduce pressure on its central arteries. Finally, targeted measures such as restricted city center access, low emission zones and specific rules for the movement of heavy vehicles must also be implemented.