Accidents are becoming the hallmark of Greek motoring say two Irish Times writers
Two Greek athletes involved in a mysterious motorcycle accident - one man knocked down and killed by a Danish Olympic sailor - an Irish participant hospitalised after a road crash - another who avoids the same fate by taking the bus.
All the ingredients are present for a modern day Greek tragedy - or the most far-fetched soap opera. But all of the above actually occurred during, or leading up to, the present Olympic games in Athens.
It looks like signing up to be the mobile target for the 100 metres shooting competition may be a safer option than taking your chances on the city's streets.
And all this after the authorities took measures to combat traffic problems by installing over 1,000 road cameras, and introduced dedicated lanes for specially accredited Olympic vehicles.
So, is motoring in Greece tantamount to taking your life in your hands? My own memories of the country are favourable, tinted - or tainted - as they are with the rosy hue of holidays past. Both were on the islands, a Yamaha XT250 trail bike and a Suzuki 'jeep' being the respective modes of transport.
I recall the worst hazards being coach drivers schooled in the 'might is right' principle, and tourists buzzing about on mopeds. The roads were bad in places - especially on two wheels - and no doubt claimed many a 'gravel rash' victim. A lax attitude to safety was also in evidence, certainly on the first occasion - best expressed when the chap we hired our motorcycles from enquired if we'd also be wanting helmets.
Then there was the old Honda 50, spotted on one of the better roads. A young child clung to the back, while the adult in front blithely rode along with hands placed casually on hips. On overtaking, however, we observed that there were actually three people sitting on the motorcycle - not one of them adorned with a helmet. The one in front had his hands placed on the bars, while hips-man sat in the middle. Otherwise, it seemed no worse than Ireland - with the added benefit of something referred to as the sun.
The facts, however, indicate otherwise. Over the past Easter Holiday weekend alone, 45 people lost their lives on Greek roads. Indeed, according to European Commission figures for 2002 (CARE, Community Road Accident Database), Greece had the second highest road death toll in the then 15 member states, with 157 fatalities per million of population - pipped into a macabre second place by Portugal, where the figure was 160. To put it in perspective, Ireland had 97.
An article in the Greek English language newspaper, Kathimerini, blames the high accident rate on the increased number of cars taking to the roads over the past decade. Another report links some deaths in the capital on "the rash of roadworks" in the run-up to the Olympics, along with "incorrigibly bad driving".
The Rough Guide isn't enamoured either. "Erratic overtaking, tailgating, barging out heedlessly from side roads are preferred pastimes, lane lines and turn signals may as well not exist", it enthuses. Looks like those holiday glasses must have had an extra strong tint.
So, if you must drive around Greece, and specifically Athens, make sure you are in a car with a high Euro NCAP rating - or better still, a big truck. Don't think you will be safe on foot either, as it seems that traffic lights are regarded by many Athenians as street decorations. Maybe, as Irish athlete Robert Heffernan proved, it's just safer to take the bus.
About 15 years ago, while working in Athens as a freelance journalist I was moving about the city.
At one crossing, the lights had just turned red. The traffic had stopped and so my way was clear to cross. Suddenly, there was a loud bang and I was thrown up in the air before, luckily, landing in a sitting position, to put it politely. Strangely my briefcase had managed to cross the road safely as had one of my shoes.
Feeling slightly dazed, - I hadn't even seen the Volkswagen van which had hit me - I jumped up to run across the road and rescue my shoe and my dignity. I then realised the van, having slowed down initially, was moving off.
Thankfully a crowd surrounded the van and the driver was forced to return, somewhat agitated, it must be said, to the scene.
At this stage I was sitting on the street. He tried to get me to stand up by grabbing my injured arm.
I in turn tried to force him to desist with the other arm. The police arrived quickly as did an ambulance, complete with mandatory flashing blue light. It emerged that the driver was drunk and had crashed the red light.
The medics asked if I had hit my head and seemed happy enough that I was going to survive that they dispensed with the blue light and siren noises. Indeed they were so happy with my status that along the way to the hospital they collected a friend, an elderly relative and some shopping.
At the hospital I was seen to quickly, told not to work for eight days, strapped up, given some painkillers and sent on my way.
I was also given a sicknote, written in perfect Greek, which for all I know could have been a plea to fellow pedestrians to help me cross the road safely.