The Ordinary Gesture That Could Cost Drivers in Greece Their License

In Greece, a gesture made in anger can now cost a driver far more than a roadside argument. The country’s new Highway Code allows authorities to punish offensive behavior toward pedestrians and other drivers with a €150 fine and a 40-day suspension of the driving license.

The rule, introduced under Law 5209/2025 and in force since September 2025, explicitly requires motorists to behave courteously in traffic. Horns, shouting, insults and angry gestures may seem routine on congested Greek roads, but authorities can treat an obviously aggressive or offensive act as a breach of that obligation.

The offense falls under categories E2-A and S. The penalties include the fine and license withdrawal, but not the removal of registration plates or the vehicle registration certificate. The law does not provide a precise list of banned words or gestures, so authorities must assess the behavior and the circumstances of each incident. A dispute does not automatically lead to a penalty.

An accident is not required. Authorities may intervene even when no vehicle has been hit, no damage has been caused and no one has been injured, if the conduct is considered antisocial or offensive. In more serious cases, the incident may also raise questions under Article 361 of Greece’s Criminal Code, which covers insult. The basic offense can carry up to six months in prison or a fine, while a public insult can carry up to one year or a fine. The article notes that this does not mean every traffic argument leads to imprisonment, and rejects claims that the code sets a fixed maximum fine of €1,500 for insult.