Road deaths in Cyprus increase year-on-year, driven primarily by driver distraction, with official figures revealing that sixteen motorcyclists were killed, surpassing the thirteen car drivers who died in road collisions.
The statistics, presented to the Road Safety Council this week, show that careless driving and distraction, heavily linked to mobile phone use, accounted for eleven fatalities, making it the leading cause of death on the island’s roads.
Overall, 43 people have died in 43 road collisions this year, prompting Ministers to demand immediate action.
Distraction blamed for surge in fatalities
Data presented by Traffic Director Haris Evripidou to the Council, chaired by Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeades, showed that of the 43 victims, the largest group was motorcyclists. Of those killed, eleven were young people aged up to 25, including eight of the young motorcyclists. The fatalities also included eight pedestrians and three cyclists.
Analysis of the crash causes shows nineteen deaths are linked to inattentive driving, which includes the eleven victims attributed to careless driving/distraction and the eight killed for failure to keep to the left. Minister Vafeades stressed that this represents a national “scourge,” stating the Police can confidently link these deaths to distraction: “I personally interpret this potentially into mobile phone use. This cannot be accepted.”
While distraction was the primary factor, other causes include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (five victims) and speed (two victims). Geographically, the highest death toll was recorded in Limassol with fifteen fatalities.
Government promises urgent measures by January
Minister Vafeades noted that the figures jeopardise the government’s target of reducing fatal road collisions by 50% or more by 2030. To address the crisis, the government has requested that the relevant committees reconvene the Road Safety Council in January, sooner than originally planned, to submit and implement immediate corrective measures.
Justice Minister Constantinos Fytiris confirmed the urgency, pledging that his Ministry, through the Police, would implement necessary measures regarding both police resources and technology.
In a related move to protect young road users, the Minister of Transport confirmed the government’s support for a legislative proposal that seeks to enforce zero alcohol consumption for young drivers. Fytiris also confirmed that Police are examining the logistical issue of drivers obstructing ambulances due to the presence of traffic cameras to find an optimal solution that ensures public and emergency safety.
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