Cars queue at the Elefsina tollgates yesterday as masses of Athenians left the city to enjoy their Easter break. Travelers will see mixed weather today, with some rain expected in central and northern Greece.

Hundreds of thousands of Easter holidaymakers leaving cities around Greece yesterday for the long weekend did not face any serious problems in their travels apart from heavy traffic on national roads, authorities said.

Traffic police estimate that vacationers in some 200,000 cars left Athens yesterday, resulting in long queues at the Elefsina toll station on the Athens-Corinth highway.

Traffic also jammed on the Athens-Lamia national road at the Afidnes toll station and the Maliakos Gulf as thousands of Athenians fled the capital for central and northern Greece.

Easter traffic accounted for some 16,000 vehicles leaving Thessaloniki.

The government and police have asked drivers to be especially mindful of traffic rules this week. The number of traffic accidents usually spikes during Easter, traditionally a busy time on the nation’s roads.

Volunteers handed out leaflets at highway tollgates yesterday, advising drivers to be especially careful when driving this weekend and follow safety procedures such as wearing seat belts.

About 500 fewer Greeks would be killed in car accidents each year if they wore seat belts, according to estimates.

Tens of ships also left the ports of Piraeus and Rafina yesterday, their seats booked and tickets sold out.

Passengers had been advised to arrive at the ports well in advance of their ship’s sailing time and this apparently avoided any delayed departures, authorities said.

Last summer, ferry companies were heavily criticized for poor service and long delays.