Alcohol and drugs are responsible for approximately 24% of fatal road collisions in Cyprus, while using a mobile phone while driving quadruples the risk of a crash, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Harm Reduction Conference 2026 in Nicosia, Vafeades said new legislation for professional motorcyclists would take effect within the coming months, noting that motorcyclists are approximately 14 times more exposed to fatal collisions than car drivers.
“We are moving forward with the implementation of a new legislative framework that includes stricter licensing conditions, mandatory use of certified equipment and minimum safety specifications,” he said.
Vafeades cited WHO figures showing 1,190,000 people die in road collisions globally every year. In the European Union, approximately 19,400 people were killed and around 100,000 seriously injured on the roads in 2025, he added. The target for 2030 is to cut those figures by 50%, saving more than 10,000 lives a year, he said.
The minister also highlighted the risk posed by speed, saying a collision at 30km/h carries less than a 10% fatality risk for a pedestrian, while at 50km/h that figure rises to between 80% and 90%. Local authorities across Cyprus are implementing 30km/h zones with the ministry’s guidance and support, he said.
“We are also carrying out targeted interventions at dangerous spots and upgrading pedestrian crossings, as well as the overall quality of our road infrastructure, with a more human-centred approach to road space design,” Vafeades said.
He added that while infrastructure and technology play a key role, behaviour remains a critical factor. The Road Safety Ambassadors programme in schools, along with targeted awareness campaigns, aim to build a strong road safety culture, he said.
(information from CNA)