Cyprus is the third worst country in Europe for road deaths among people under 24 and has the second highest proportion of young fatalities from road accidents at 27%, against an EU-27 average of 18%, a road safety conference has heard.
The figures were presented by Jenny Carson, representative of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), at a discussion organised by the Traffic Police headquarters and the ETSC under the Cyprus EU Presidency.
Carson said Cyprus ranked third worst in the EU for deaths among under-24s in 2023 and second for the proportion of young fatalities from road collisions, at 27% against an EU-27 average of 18%.
Rising toll
Traffic Police Director Haris Evripidou said 120 people were killed on Cyprus’s roads over the three years from 2023 to 2025, of whom 25% were under 24. The annual death toll rose each year: 34 in 2023, 41 in 2024 and 45 in 2025. Serious injuries over the same period totalled 725, with a further 1,349 people sustaining minor injuries.
Evripidou said the target under the 2021-2030 strategic plan is to reduce annual road deaths from 45 to 26, through a series of measures aimed at preventing serious road collisions.
Where deaths are happening
61% of fatal accidents occur in residential areas, 26% on rural roads and 13% on motorways.
Main causes
The leading cause of road deaths over the past three years was distracted or inattentive driving, accounting for 21.1% of fatalities. Alcohol consumption was second at 12.4%. Driving on the wrong side of the road and driving under the influence of drugs were joint third, each accounting for an equal share. Other leading causes included pedestrians crossing incorrectly, excessive speed and failing to take sufficient care when turning right.
Who is dying
Over the 2023-2025 period, 30% of those killed were car drivers, 26.7% were motorcyclists and 21.7% were pedestrians. When cyclists are included alongside motorcyclists in the two-wheeled category, the combined total exceeds the share of those killed in cars.
During the same period, 30 young people under 24 sustained serious injuries while riding electric scooters, and 80 sustained injuries while riding motorcycles.
General non-compliance
Haris Christodoulou, who is responsible for the Legislation, Policing and Traffic Code committee at the Road Safety Council, said a general pattern of non-compliance with traffic rules was being observed. He identified the following as the main road safety challenges:
- The overwhelming majority of deaths and serious injuries occur on urban roads
- An exceptionally high rate of fatal collisions and serious injuries among motorcyclists and moped riders
- An exceptionally high rate of fatal collisions and serious injuries among young male drivers
- A very high rate of fatal collisions involving foreign nationals living in Cyprus
- A very high rate of fatal collisions involving pedestrians, particularly elderly pedestrians
Measures under way or proposed
Christodoulou outlined the following action areas for reducing deaths and serious injuries: amending legislation and increasing enforcement; reforming driver training and testing; public awareness and education campaigns; intensifying road safety education in schools; safer road infrastructure; and safer vehicles.
Specific measures being implemented or proposed for drivers include: revised driver training and testing; introducing electronic theory testing for driving licences; revoking licences for drug and alcohol offences; modernising legislation covering driving instructors and schools; improving the health certificate system for drivers; subsidising motorcycle safety programmes; and advancing the reissue of the Highway Code.
Ambulance response
New ambulance stations are proposed for specific areas to reduce response times to road collisions. Ambulance crews are receiving ongoing training, and a paramedic has recently been introduced as part of the ambulance crew. Emergency response services have been equipped with specialised equipment.
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