**Nicosia, Cyprus** – Cyprus is poised to implement a significant raft of new road safety measures, driven by parliamentary discussions and a palpable urgency to curb the alarming incidence of serious traffic accidents. Discussions held on Thursday afternoon at the House transport committee, involving MPs and the Transport Minister, have paved the way for legislative proposals aimed at bolstering driver accountability, enhancing protection for vulnerable road users, and modernising enforcement strategies. The proposed legislation, expected to be submitted for a parliamentary vote within the fortnight, signifies a proactive stance against the pervasive dangers on the nation's roads.
The impetus for these stringent reforms stems from a stark reality: a concerning number of fatalities and serious injuries, particularly impacting young individuals and motorcyclists. Last year alone, 17 motorcyclists and nine pedestrians lost their lives on Cypriot roads, a statistic that has galvanised authorities into action. Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeades highlighted the critical need for intervention, noting that the police have tabled a series of recommendations that will form the bedrock of a comprehensive action plan. This plan will be meticulously developed by a newly appointed committee, tasked with translating proposals into tangible safety improvements.
Central to the impending legislative changes is the introduction of a zero-alcohol tolerance policy for specific driver demographics. This stringent measure will target young drivers, learner drivers, and individuals operating vehicles without a valid licence – categories identified as being at heightened risk. MP Chrysanthos Savvides of Diko underscored the gravity of the situation, referencing that "in the last five years, 15 thousand drivers have been arrested. Consider how many others are circulating, undetected, mostly young people. Combined with drugs, the cocktail becomes even more dangerous." This emphasis on zero tolerance for impaired driving, including drug-induced impairment, signals a paradigm shift towards absolute abstinence behind the wheel for these groups.
Furthermore, the reforms extend to enhancing driver education and ongoing training, aiming to foster a more responsible driving culture from the outset. Vulnerable road users, a group tragically overrepresented in accident statistics, will receive enhanced protection. A legislative amendment is in the pipeline to mandate reflective safety markings for all delivery workers utilising motorcycles and electric bicycles. This measure is designed to significantly improve their visibility, particularly during adverse weather conditions or low-light scenarios.
In tandem with legislative action, enforcement capabilities are being bolstered. The Road Transport Department is set to roll out a significant software update for the country's traffic camera network on March 1st, at a cost of €1,153,000, intended to optimise the existing photo-enforcement system. A committee will also be convened to scrutinise the efficacy of this system and propose enhancements. Moreover, procedures for dealing with drivers caught under the influence of drugs are being streamlined, with the Chief of Police to be granted the authority for immediate, on-the-spot licence suspension. This swift punitive action aims to expeditiously remove dangerous drivers from circulation.
The issue of high-speed electric bicycles, which have increasingly become a concern due to their potential to exceed legal speed limits, is also being addressed. Police are initiating enforcement operations to identify and remove non-compliant vehicles from the road network. These multifaceted initiatives, encompassing legislative reform, enhanced education, and more robust enforcement, collectively represent Cyprus's determined effort to create a safer road environment for all its inhabitants. The recent serious road traffic accident involving a motorcyclist on Limassol's beach road serves as a poignant reminder of the stakes involved in this critical undertaking.