Greece is mounting a nationwide effort to remove racy billboards from roadsides, amid growing evidence that images of the scantily clad are contributing to the worst road accident figures in Europe.
With 15,000 of the hoardings in the capital alone, Greek drivers are distracted by "unacceptable levels of eye candy", say campaigners, who have successfully convinced the courts to rule that all roadside ads be dismantled.
The billboards invariably depict svelte females in outré poses. "Many of them not only hide traffic lights and road signs, they are put up illegally," said an Athens traffic police official. "We believe they are the cause of 10 per cent of all accidents in the city."
More than 2,000 people die on Greek roads annually. Another 4,000 are seriously wounded in about 22,000 car accidents a year. This month, unruly drivers were targeted with new rules that include fines of up to €700 for ignoring a stop sign or running a red light.
The adverse effects of billboards on motorists were brought to light by an Athenian lawyer, Athanasios Tsiokos, whose son was killed when he crashed into one on a busy avenue in the capital. Mr Tsiokos has since campaigned to punish advertising companies. This year his complaint was upheld by the State Council, which ordered the billboards removed.
Municipalities have begun dismantling the boards. But the campaign has not been easy. Corrupt local government officials have long ensured that billboards have flourished.
Recently, campaigners have woken up to find that those removed frequently have been re-erected overnight.