Topping the “worst” list is the Iraklion Municipality, followed by the N. Alikarnassos, while Hersonissos is in third place, and Malia close behind in fourth.

According to Chief Halkiadakis, road accidents always increase during the four month period from July to October.

“During this four-month interval, 53 percent of the annual vehicular accidents take place, with September claiming 16.1 percent of that,” he said. “The other 47 percent occur during the remaining eight months.”

Mr. Lionakis said that “perhaps the Kallikratis plan could give some economic aid to the new municipalities to help confront the problem and lead to a solution.

“In Crete we have a bad and distorted driving behaviour,” he continued, “and given the fact that our roads are the worst in Greece, I’m afraid that the next set of statistics won’t be any more optimistic. The solution will be found only by starting with a basis, which is education.”

Meanwhile, at least one company is stepping up to be counted on the subject of road safety.

In a special programme sponsored by Heineken, a special driving simulator is making the rounds this summer of five big municipalities in Greece, including Iraklion and Hania in Crete.

With a basic message of “I Care! I Don’t Drink and Drive,” the simulator will illustrate to visitor-drivers how they would react if they were driving after having consumed two or more glasses of alcohol. Experiencing these reactions, in a protected digital environment, the beer company is trying to convince consumers to avoid driving when they have drunk too much.

In its first stop in Crete, the driver education programme attracted over 1,400 visitors, with 650 of them “driving” the stimulator.