- It’s August 15th weekend, which means half of Crete and your cousins from the mainland are on VOAK, and nobody knows how to use their indicators.
- Police and highway patrols are setting up camp on the main highway, city exits, and backroads around Heraklion to catch speeders, drunk drivers, and people who think seatbelts are optional.
- Today, officers at Jesus Gate were literally giving out single-use breathalyzer kits so people can test themselves before attempting to navigate a mountain road after a three-hour feast.
- Fatalities are down significantly over the last few years—from 15–16 a decade ago to just 3 so far in Heraklion this year. Let’s keep it that way so I don’t have to hear any more sirens. Thank you very much.
Look, if you’re renting a car in Crete right now, listen to me: the highway is a zoo. Everybody is heading to the villages for the Assumption holiday, drinking homemade wine and literally buttloads of raki, while trying to pass trucks on blind corners.
The Heraklion Traffic Department and the VOAK highway guys have every available officer out on the asphalt. They aren’t playing around this year. They’re looking for the big stuff: speeding, illegal overtaking, running red lights, and riding scooters without helmets.
Traffic Commander Stelios Karakoudis basically said his team is going to be everywhere during peak hours, especially on Sunday afternoon when everyone tries to drive back to Heraklion at the exact same time. “Our presence on the roads these days is aimed at preventing traffic accidents. We want to be allies in the safe movement of our fellow citizens… We emphasize the use of protective helmets on motorcycles, and the use of seat belts inside the car, in all seats.”
They were even at the Jesus Gate handing out safety booklets and disposable breathalyzers. If you’ve been drinking at the panigiri, blow into the tube first. If it turns color, hand the keys to your sober friend or sit under an olive tree until morning. Yeah, I know, good luck with that.
According to Neakriti, the crackdown is actually working. Heraklion used to lose 15 or 16 people a year on these roads. Last year it was down to 6, and so far in 2026, they’ve recorded 3.
So do us all a favor: put down the phone, buckle up, stay sober behind the wheel, and let me finish this drink in peace.
To Remind You, These Are the Violations in the Crosshairs
According to Heraklion Traffic Commander Karakoudis, police checkpoints are specifically hunting for the behaviors that turn a holiday drive into a nightmare:
- Speeding: Especially on the newly expanded, smooth sections of the VOAK, where drivers easily get complacent and exceed limits. CMP
- Drunk Driving: The “taverna trap.” Having two glasses of wine or raki at lunch and thinking you are fine to drive the rental back to the hotel is a massive risk.
- Illegal Overtaking: A classic, deadly hazard on Crete’s winding provincial roads. Do not attempt to pass on blind corners or solid lines.
- Seatbelts and Helmets: This applies to every single seat in the vehicle, not just the front. If your rental is a convertible or you are on a rented ATV/scooter, helmets are mandatory and strictly checked.
