The Cyprus Police is seeking the authority to immediately withdraw a driver’s license on the spot for serious traffic offenses, and discussions are already underway with the Ministry of Transport regarding legislative amendments.
The Police, particularly the Traffic Department, wants the right to instantly remove the driving license of an offender caught driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs—substances considered highly dangerous when combined with driving.
This development is prompted by the fact that increasing numbers of drivers are being detected intoxicated, having used drugs, or, worse, using both substances simultaneously, making them “moving bombs” on the roads.
Under the current legislation, a driver detected positive for alcohol or drugs is arrested and released the next day, retaining the right to drive normally until their trial. Furthermore, the summons for the court hearing may be served months later, or sometimes never, due to difficulty locating the individual.
This is why the Traffic Department is pushing for a change in the legislation to enable officers to serve an on-the-spot letter-notice to a driver, informing them that their license is suspended for a limited period, while criminal proceedings are initiated. This mechanism would ensure an immediate consequence for a driver operating under unacceptable conditions, while saving the Traffic Department from bureaucratic, often endless, procedures.
2025 Road Fatalities: The Data
According to Traffic Department data, there were 11 fatalities in 2025 related to drivers being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both. By October 2025, the Traffic Department had issued 3,226 citations for exceeding the alcohol limit and 869 citations for positive drug tests—numbers considered significantly high for Cyprus.
Overall, 2025 ended with four more fatalities compared to 2024. The upward trend, which began after the unprecedented drop in deaths recorded in 2023 (34 fatalities in 32 collisions), continued. Specifically, 45 people were killed in 45 road collisions in 2025, compared to 41 in 2024.
Motorcyclists paid a heavy toll: of the 45 victims, 16 were drivers or passengers of motorcycles, one was a moped driver, three were cyclists, and there were nine pedestrian victims. The year 2025 saw 13 deceased car drivers and three car passengers. Furthermore, 16 of the 45 victims were young people aged up to 25.
Regarding the causes of collisions, careless and negligent driving remains the primary factor, mainly attributed to mobile phone use. In total, 2025 saw 11 fatalities due to careless driving/distraction, 11 fatalities under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and six fatalities due to failure to keep to the left side of the road. There were also several serious road collisions and two fatalities due to excessive speeding. Of the 45 traffic victims, 28 were Greek Cypriots, and 17 were foreign nationals (11 from third countries and six from European countries).
Statistically, the most critical day for a serious or fatal collision is Saturday, followed by Friday, days when people are travelling for entertainment or visits. Ten of the 45 victims in 2025 died between 8:00 PM and midnight.