An online event about the serious problem of the road traffic accidents in Greece, was organized by the Institute of Public Health, The American College of Greece on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, featuring presentations by Eleftherios Oikonomou, Deputy Minister of Citizens’ Protection and Panagiotis Behrakis, Pulmonologist – Intensivist, Director, Institute of Public Health – The American College of Greece, in the context of the 6th Series of Lectures, 2020-2021.

A survey conducted by The Institute of Public Health, The American College of Greece, in 2020, showed that road accidents were the most important public health risk for the Greek public. This led to the recent survey, also conducted by The Institute of Public Health, The American College of Greece, specifically focusing  on the drivers’ behavior usually associated with increased risk for road accidents.

The conclusions of this survey  were presented during the event, in an effort to help solve the problem and assist the Government and all engaged bodies to better understand the profile of the Greek driver who is most likely to engage in an accident and take prevention and precautionary measures.

Based on the IPH  survey, participants, including professional drivers as well, reported breaking the traffic rules such as accelerating to pass with yellow traffic light(54%), exceeding speed limit (49%), use of mobile and GPS while driving(49%), no use of seat belt(24%) and alcohol consumption(13%), all documented major causes of accidents.

It has been statistically proven that the highest percentage of responsibility for road accidents lies with the human factor, under the triple capacity of driver – passenger – pedestrian and according to World Bank’ data, the financial cost of road accidents is calculated to 1-3% on each state’s GDP.

As the Deputy Minister presented, the main factors responsible for road accidents are human behavior, road quality characteristics and vehicle condition. Both the Deputy Minister and Professor Behrakis highlighted the crucial importance of the human factor and consequently  the need for  specifically designed  driver’s education. Professor Behrakis  announced that the new IPH project commenced with this survey, is to tackle road accidents through science and education; using the same method as for smoking prevention we will start from the early school age our aim to shape a new generation,  the conscious adult pedestrian and driver of tomorrow.

Find the program of the 6th Series of Lectures, 2020-2021 here

The event’s video (in greek):

On the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day 2020, the Institute of Public Health, The American College of Greece and the Institute of Scientific Research of the Panhellenic Medical Association co-organize an Online Discussion, entitled “Education for a smokefree generation”.

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 at 19:00
Watch online via www.livemedia.gr/smokefree20
Live broadcast in our Facebook page SMOKEFREEGREECE

Moderated by

Panagiotis Behrakis, Pulmonologist-Intencivist, Director, Institute of Public Health, ACG

Haris Vavouranakis, Orthopedic surgeon, President, Institute of Scientific Research, PMA

Address by

Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Health

Sofia Zaharaki, Deputy Minister of Educational and Religious Affairs

Athanasios Exadaktylos, President of the Panhellenic Medical Association

Chrysanthos Georgiou, President of Cyprus National Addictions Authority

Lecturers
Anna Kokkevi, Professor Emeritus, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens

George Chroussos, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics & Endocrinology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens

Panagiotis Behrakis, Director, Institute of Public Health
Head of the National Committee of Experts for Tobacco Control

Paraskevi Pataka, Professor Emeritus of Pulmonology, former Vice Rector, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

The panelists will discuss the progress of the smoking prevalence reduction and the correlation between smoking and stress related to adolescence, but also to the COVID-19 pandemic; there will also be a reference to the educational school-based program of the SMOKEFREEGREECE initiative and health professionals’ important role towards the prevention and smoking cessation.

The event will be held in greek