Traffic signs: Children's Crossing signs in Greece

While most Children's crossings in Greece are of a modern type, some older designs can stil be found.

These are real children carrying a bookbag which is far too heavy. They have a face, realistic legs, clothing and hair. Look at the hair of the girl: this is collector's heaven and Monsieur Jean - coiffeur is ready to launch of a new fashion in his salon.

Additional observations:
+ It is the girl who cares for the boy. She doesn't drag him like on signs of the UK-group. She just protects him.

+ The bags are on the outside. That is almost never the case but for countries like The Gambia and Zimbabwe where the girl also has control.


Rhodes, Eleousa, 1997	Meteora, Kalambaka, V.2008; pict. H. De Meyer

On the modern signs positions and responsabilities are swapped. The design comes closer to the old drawings from many other European countries where the boy is responsible (f.e. Portugal).

The new drawing also adheres to the convention : if the boy holds the arm of the girl then she holds her bag with that arm. The bookbag is therefore found in between both persons (f.e. Brazil, Belgium, etc.). That's of course not possible if they hold hands like in Italy.

The older design is clearly superior to the more recent creations which are rapidly declining towards match-stick drawings.

Konitsa, V.2008; pict. H. De Meyer

Konitsa, V.2008; pict. H. De Meyer

Ioanina, V.2008; pict. H. De Meyer

Several things are happening on the modern signs.
The children are gradually losing their smooth curves and become rather unrealistic: look at the heads, the boy's foot, his hand. Arms and then legs also split apart.

Noticed that one girl succeeded in smuggling a sledge hammer along? I find this particularly disquieting, given the way some schools make it to the news.

Lesbos, Antissa, 29.XII.2012;
pict. B. Hoeyberghs

Lesbos, Agra, 29.XII.2012;
pict. B. Hoeyberghs

And now any incentive to visit the country is lost.

the Mediterranean kind (see Malta for an elucidation)
the UK-group (see Iceland)

Know that some of the Falling Rock Signs also come from Iceland!

Nederlands	Path: Home / Country list / Children in depth / Children in Greece
Children's Crossing Signs in Greece

		Notice: The bottom of the triangle features the Pirelli logo with the long P stretched out almost across the entire width. Sponsored signs can also be found in France, Austria, Madagascar.
Kithira, V.2002; pict. T. Vandendriessche

Children's Crossing Signs in Greece