Article 17

Drivers

1. Every moving vehicle or combination of vehicles must have a driver.

a. aa) Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, an urban-type buses may be operated on public roads without a driver on board as part of a pilot program or trial operation for research or other purposes. Its operation is permitted by a decision of the municipal council, following the approval of the local competent traffic authorities or police departments performing traffic duties, for a specified period of time and a specific urban or suburban route, determined following a traffic study, in accordance with Article 55 of this Law, concerning traffic regulation measures, and Article 83 of the Code of Municipalities and Communities (Law 3463/2006, A’ 114), concerning municipal public transportation, provided that the vehicle is in operation as part of a municipal public transportation service. Specifically for the operation of municipal public transportation, for the purposes of this provision, the use of vehicles owned by the entity implementing the research program or by the supplier/manufacturer, provided that the program in question constitutes a pre-commercial public procurement action.

(ab) Driverless urban buses must be equipped with appropriate mechanisms and automatic systems that ensure driving behavior, braking, and stopping behavior equivalent to that of a bus operated by a driver.

(ag) To ensure the smooth operation of the driverless Urban Press Bus and the safety of passengers and other road users, the bus and the road on which it travels must be monitored throughout its entire journey by a Control Center using electronic devices for capturing and recording video (cameras) and audio. These devices are mounted on the exterior of the vehicle and at predetermined points along the route to ensure full monitoring of the bus’s movement, other traffic on the road, and the road environment, so that the control center can, to bring the bus to a stop or maneuver it to avoid obstacles, should traffic conditions or emergency situations require it.

For the safety of passengers and for public safety reasons, the interior of the driverless bus may be monitored, throughout its journey, by a control center using electronic devices for capturing and recording video (cameras) and audio.

(ad) The person responsible for monitoring the bus’s movement at the Control Center must hold a valid driver’s license of the appropriate class and a Certificate of Professional Competencyand is responsible for the operation of the driverless vehicle. He or she is liable, in accordance with the provisions of this regulation, as the driver of the vehicle, for bringing the vehicle to a stop or performing maneuvers to avoid obstacles, should traffic conditions or emergency circumstances so require.

The person responsible for monitoring bus traffic at the control center simultaneously monitors the movement of up to four (4) buses, unless specific safety reasons—such as increased speed or heavy traffic—require that number to be limited.

(ae) The driverless Urban Press Bus operates on the predetermined route specified in the aforementioned traffic study, and its position on the road is determined by Article 20, regarding position on the road. The driverless Urban Press Bus fully complies with traffic rules, including those indicated by road signs and traffic signals, as well as traffic officers’ signals.

(ast) The operation of the driverless Urban Press Bus as part of a pilot program or trial run for the purposes of this provision shall be carried out in successive stages, following an evaluation of the results of each stage, which determine the nature and conditions for implementing the next stage, as well as the need to take additional measures or interventions to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle.

b. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, a passenger car or truck with a maximum weight of up to three and a half (3.5) metric tons, without a driver on board, as part of a pilot program for research purposes, upon submission of a relevant, documented request by the interested entity.

For the approval of a vehicle for entry into service under this provision, the terms and conditions set forth in subparagraphs (aa) through (ast) of paragraph (a) shall apply mutatis mutandis.

2. The driver must hold the driver’s license required by the relevant provisions, possess the necessary physical and mental capacity, and be in a fit condition to drive. While driving, the driver must be able to control his vehicle or his animals. The driver of any vehicle must have full freedom of movement to freely perform the necessary maneuvers. In particular, it is prohibited to use, while in motion, wired headphones connected to portable radios or other similar audio devices, as well as televisions or other portable electronic devices with touchscreens that function as such. The use of a cell phone or other electronic device while driving for video recording or live streaming from the driver’s seat is prohibited, unless the cell phone or device is mounted in a designated holder. The use of a cell phone or other telecommunications devices, such as portable electronic devices in the form of a wristwatch, is permitted only when the device is mounted in a designated holder for hands-free use or for

when using navigation apps or when used with a wireless headset.

3. Drivers of motor vehicles and mopeds must, in accordance with the relevant provisions, possess the necessary knowledge and skills to drive. A learner driver must also possess this necessary knowledge when driving.

4. The driver of a vehicle transporting hazardous materials in quantities exceeding certain limits must have completed the necessary professional training, as required by the relevant provisions, so that they can operate and drive the vehicle in a manner that does not endanger people, the environment, animals, or their own safety.

5. Drivers of buses, public passenger vehicles, private-use passenger vehicles for hire with a driver, and trucks are prohibited from driving beyond the time limits specified by applicable regulations. Owners of public-use passenger vehicles (E.D.X.) under paragraph 19 of Article 4, as well as owners of public transportation vehicles and tourist vehicles, must ensure that passive safety measures for passengers are in place. Drivers must drive prudently to ensure the absolute safety of passengers during transport.

6. a) A violation of paragraph 1 is classified as category E1-A.

(b) Violations of paragraph 2 are classified in category E3-B, except for the violation of the first sentence of paragraph 2, which is classified in category E2-A and in category S.

(ba) In the event of a violation of the sixth subparagraph of paragraph 2, which concerns the use of a cell phone while driving, in addition to the administrative penalties specified in subparagraph (b), if the driver causes a traffic accident resulting in serious bodily injury, significant damage to public infrastructure, or the death of one or more people, the penalties set forth in subparagraphs (cc) and dd) of paragraph 1 of Article 290A of the Penal Code (Law 4619/2019, A’ 95), concerning dangerous driving. For the criminal offense described in the first sentence of this subparagraph, the investigation may also include the lifting of the confidentiality of the content of communications and of their location and movement data, subject to the safeguards and procedures set forth in Article 6, concerning the lifting of the confidentiality of communications for the investigation of crimes, Article 7, concerning the handling of material obtained through such disclosures for the investigation of crimes, and Article 8, concerning the procedure for lifting confidentiality, of Law 5002/2022 (A’ 228).

(d) Violations of paragraph 5,

(da) A violation of the first paragraph is classified as Category E2-A, except for truck drivers, who are penalized in accordance with the specific provisions of Law 3446/2006 (A’49),

(db) a violation of the second paragraph is classified as category E3-A,

(dg) A violation of the third paragraph is classified under Category E1-A and Category S.

7. The Regional Governor or the authorities authorized by him may require a driver’s license holder to undergo a re-examination, if doubts arise regarding their fitness to drive or their medical re-examination, or if doubts arise regarding their physical or mental condition.

In such cases, the driver’s license of the driver referred for re-examination is revoked upon issuance of the re-examination decision and is reinstated only if the driver is deemed competent.