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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-04-27
CONTENTS
[01] PM pays symbolic visit to Traffic Management Control Centre in
view of Easter exodus
[01] PM pays symbolic visit to Traffic Management Control Centre in
view of Easter exodus
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday visited the Traffic
Management Control Centre and the Emergency Action Operations Centre at
the police headquarters in Athens, where he was briefed on preparations
made for the anticipated Easter exodus by Athenians. He was accompanied
by Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis, Minister of State
Theodoros Roussopoulos, Deputy Public Order Minister Christos
Markoyiannakis and the leadership of the Greek Police (ELAS).
This was the prime minister's first visit to the newly-established
traffic control centre, set up for the Athens Olympics last summer.
In statements after the visit, he stressed that the new service was
equipped with the latest technical resources and monitored traffic on a
24-hour basis, helping both to regulate its flow but also to provide
immediate assistance to accident victims and quick solutions to
problems.
"With this new service, the establishment of a national highway traffic
police and improvements at problem spots on the road network through
the construction of modern motorways, the State is trying to fulfil its
obligation to offer the safest possible environment for drivers and
travellers.
"But I must also stress that all citizens must be aware of their own
personal responsibility, and meet their own obligations. We are all
aware of the rules for a safe trip, we know what we must do and what we
must avoid. I therefore think that it would be good for this year, in
view of the upcoming exodus for Easter, if we set ourselves a target:
no more lost lives on the tarmac. Happy Easter to all," Karamanlis
said.
After the visit, Voulgarakis drove up to the Afidnes toll post to
monitor the start of the Easter exodus and wish traffic police a happy
Easter. He also launched a campaign begun on Wednesday by the Greek
traffic police, handing out leaflets containing Easter wishes, maps of
the 14 sections of the national highway with the highest accident rate
and advice to drivers for the avoidance of accidents, as well as a CD
with Greek folk music
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