Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades has announced immediate reforms to vehicle safety procedures following the publication of a damning report into defective Takata airbags and delayed vehicle recalls that contributed to the deaths of drivers.
The multi-page report, released on 15 July and initially submitted to the Law Office, highlighted serious responsibilities, gaps in control mechanisms, and long-term weaknesses in vehicle import and safety monitoring procedures from both EU member states and third countries.
The crisis centres on airbags manufactured by Japanese company Takata, which filed for bankruptcy in 2017 after defective inflators caused over 100 million global recalls and 35 deaths worldwide. The airbags explode under high heat and humidity conditions, shooting metal fragments that can cause fatal injuries.
Deaths in Cyprus
Two deaths in Cyprus have been directly linked to the defective airbags: 24-year-old Kyriacos Oxinos in January 2023 and 19-year-old Styliani Giorgalli in October 2024. A third victim, Alexandros Loungou, has undergone 21 surgeries to restore his face following a 2017 accident.
The investigation revealed that authorities were alerted to the risks as early as 2013 by the Consumer Protection Service but failed to act. Despite receiving warnings and letters from individuals, officials took no preventive measures for a decade.
In an extensive ministry statement, Vafeades acknowledged the gravity of the findings and announced immediate interventions to improve procedures “to prevent the recurrence of phenomena that led to fatal incidents and dozens of inactive recalls.”
Scale of the problem
Approximately 71,000 vehicles in Cyprus have been identified with Takata airbags, though estimates suggest the actual number could reach 30,000 when including imports from Japan and Singapore. The island’s hot, humid climate exacerbates the airbag defects.
Vafeades decreed the recall of over 80,000 cars in February, with 276 vehicles immediately immobilised due to high-risk classifications. All affected airbags must be replaced within eight months.
Structural reforms
The ministry is proceeding with restructuring of the Road Transport Department. The ministry’s director general has been asked to take immediate measures to strengthen the service’s role and effectiveness to meet European and national framework obligations.
Technical support from the European Union through DG Reform is also being examined.
An audit by the Republic’s Internal Audit Service has been agreed, whilst both the Road Transport Department and the Electromechanical Service are implementing new internal procedures based on the report’s conclusions.
Particular emphasis is being placed on creating a Technical Vehicles Directorate, which will assume an enhanced role in technical inspections and managing road safety matters.
Criminal investigation launched
The investigation committee, led by former Supreme Court judge Michalakis Christodoulou, recommended criminal charges against three individuals and disciplinary action against five others. The report stated that four transport ministers serving between 2013 and 2023 “bear heavy responsibility” for the crisis.
Police are now studying the report for potential criminal offences, while the attorney-general will determine whether to pursue the committee’s recommendations.
Road Safety Council action
A special session of the Road Safety Council is being convened with participation from all competent authorities, including police, to implement targeted measures.
The minister expressed sincere respect for victims’ families, acknowledging their contribution to highlighting the issue. “Public acknowledgement of responsibilities is not enough,” the statement noted, and must be accompanied by actions guaranteeing citizens’ safety.
“The struggle of families who transformed their grief into demands continues, as does our own effort,” the statement said.
Citizens urged not to ignore recalls
The ministry called on citizens to cooperate with authorities and respond immediately to vehicle recall notifications. “Recalls save lives,” it emphasised, making special reference to a recent accident where the driver had been notified three times without taking action.
The ministry’s directive is clear: do not drive vehicles under airbag recall unless the defective component has been replaced.
Grey imports complicate oversight
Cyprus faces particular challenges with “grey imports” – second-hand vehicles imported privately from countries like Japan and Singapore. These imports often lack proper documentation, making it difficult to track affected vehicles and notify owners.
The ministry acknowledges the problem remains open until the vehicle owner notification chain is fully restored, particularly for vehicles without European type approval.
Vafeades’s intervention signals the start of more active and transparent management of the issue, aimed at “protecting human life” after what the investigation described as a decade of institutional indifference that cost lives.
Read more:
