A traffic policewoman exchanges pleasantries with a Corinth-bound motorist at the Elefsina tollgate in western Attica yesterday, during a safe-driving awareness campaign for the thousands of holidaymakers heading for countryside destinations. Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis briefly joined the officers, to reinforce the message.

As Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis joined traffic police officers handing out safe-driving leaflets to motorists at an Attica highway tollpost yesterday, authorities in much of western Greece were preparing a much harsher reception for holiday roadhogs.

Following instructions by the chief prosecutor in the western city of Patras, traffic police must strictly implement the law that allows the confiscation of vehicles whose drivers are caught driving well over the speed limit, or whose blood alcohol level is excessively high. This will also apply to motorists racing each other on public roads, or whose engines have been tampered with and exceed legal noise limits.

The measure will be enforced in the Patras, Ileia, Aitoloacarnania, Lefkada, Zakynthos and Cephalonia prefectures.

Meanwhile, 1,000 traffic police officers will be on duty in Attica until January 9, with squads monitoring the roads around the clock for drunk-driving, speeding and dangerous driving. Security will also be high on national roads.