Corfu’s traffic police logged 113 cases of riding without a protective helmet during stepped-up checks from 29 September to 5 October 2025. The week was part of the 14th round of a wider zero tolerance campaign that also covered Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Lefkada. The aim is simple: get riders and passengers on two-wheelers, and users of light personal electric vehicles, to wear helmets.
Officers carried out 873 inspections across the Ionian Islands and issued 263 fines for helmet non-use, local media reported. Corfu had the most (113), followed by Zakynthos (84), Kefalonia (35) and Lefkada (31). In total, 229 drivers were cited: 173 on motorcycles or scooters, 33 on Light Personal Electric Vehicles (LPEVs), 12 on ATVs (“quad bikes”), and 11 delivery workers. Another 34 passengers were fined.
Why did police step up helmet checks?
This push is part of a coordinated safety effort by Traffic Services, local police precincts and the Road Accident Prevention and Control Teams (O.E.P.T.A.). The goal is straightforward: universal helmet use for riders and passengers, plus safer LPEV operation, in line with the new national Highway Code.
Who was checked?
Checks covered many groups: riders of two-wheelers, delivery employees racing the clock, ATV users and people on LPEVs. The data did not list exact checkpoints or streets.
What do the numbers show?
Those 263 helmet violations in a single week show the problem has not gone away, and Corfu tops the list. The figures also show that LPEV riders make up a noticeable share, alongside traditional two-wheel traffic.
What are the penalties now?
With the introduction of the new Highway Code (Law 5209/2025), penalties for not wearing a helmet have been tightened:
- €350 fine and a 30-day driving licence suspension for a two-wheeler driver. The same penalty applies if the driver lets a passenger ride without a helmet.
- €350 fine for a passenger on a two-wheeler who does not wear a helmet.
- €30 fine for an LPEV driver who does not wear a helmet.
Repeat the offense and the penalties go up sharply.
Why it matters for riders?
Money and paperwork aside, steady enforcement builds a stronger road safety culture. A helmet cuts the risk of serious head injury, especially in busy city traffic and on roads crowded with seasonal visitors.
What does this mean for the city?
For Corfu, the campaign is meant to improve day-to-day safety for residents, commuters and delivery workers. Police did not share location-specific results, but the continued presence of patrols and O.E.P.T.A. teams points to ongoing monitoring in busy corridors and tourist-heavy areas.
Where to find more information?
CorfuPress published the report using data from local police services. If you saw a checkpoint or worry about a specific street, follow official updates and safety advisories. No timetable for when the campaign will end was included in the available data.
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