The findings from the analysis of the causes of the 32 fatal road collisions with 34 fatalities last year are alarming.
According to the examination of all the data by the Traffic Department of the Police, 11 of the 20 total fatalities last year were due to careless and negligent driving, with the main cause being the use of mobile phones while driving.
At the same time, despite a decrease of three fatalities compared to 2022, the Traffic Department is concerned about the increase in pedestrian casualties; one in three fatalities were foreign permanent residents of Cyprus, while the largest increase in deaths was recorded in the Larnaca province.
On the positive side, there was a decrease in motorcycle driver or passenger fatalities, and no tourists were killed last year, attributed to the effective information campaigns.
Furthermore, from the analysis of all the data, it appears that for three months last year, no lives were lost on the roads, while in the very recent past, we had four or five deaths per week.
The data from the analysis of fatal road collisions for 2023 were recently presented to the Road Safety Council, which may eventually address the issue of increasing fines for mobile phone use while driving.
Currently, the fine for using a mobile phone while driving is €150, and if the violation is repeated within the next two years, the fine doubles.
There is a general violation of the law regarding the non-use of mobile phones or other objects while driving, as evidenced by increased reports from the Traffic Department.
The lack of compliance with the law, particularly due to the unprecedented number of victims who were driving or holding their phones, leads authorities to consider other measures to ensure compliance by drivers.
As stated to Phileleftheros by Assistant Traffic Chief Haris Evripides, there seems to be widespread use of mobile phones while driving, posing deadly risks.
The Traffic Department will intensify its checks for mobile phone use within 2024 in an effort to reduce road collisions attributed to this cause.
When asked how it is determined that a driver involved in a traffic accident was using their phone, Mr. Evripides stated that this can be ascertained when other causes are ruled out, either by witness testimony or by checking the driver’s phone to see if they were talking, texting, or if the phone was active during the time of the incident.
According to the analysis of fatal incidents, in 2023, there were three fewer fatal collisions with three fewer victims compared to 2022.
Specifically, last year saw 32 collisions with 34 victims, the lowest number since 1960. There was a significant decrease observed in the Limassol and Famagusta provinces. In Limassol, there were nine victims last year compared to 14 in 2022, and in Famagusta, there were three victims compared to five.
Nicosia and Paphos remained at the same levels as 2022. An increase was observed in the Larnaca Province, with six of the 10 fatalities occurring on highways.
There were no victims in Morphou in 2023, as in 2022.
Regarding the months, January and December were the worst, with the most collisions occurring during these months, with an average of six fatalities each.
Fatal collisions occurred in July, September, and October, with five fatalities each. No fatal collisions occurred in February, June, and August.
Most of the fatal road collisions occurred during the afternoon hours, between 12:00 and 20:00 (18 out of 32 fatalities).
Most of the victims were drivers or passengers of saloon vehicles. Specifically, 15 drivers with five passengers out of the total 34 fatalities were killed on the road.
Seven fatalities were pedestrians, and the number remains higher compared to previous years. There was a significant decrease in motorcyclist fatalities, as there were five deaths last year compared to 11 in 2022 and 12 in 2021.
Additionally, 12 out of the 34 victims (35.3%) were foreigners who are permanent residents (workers, students, etc.), and it is noteworthy that no tourists were killed in traffic accidents last year.
The implementation of a photo-signalling system and the intensification of targeted inspections and campaigns have contributed significantly to a decrease in deaths caused by alcohol and drug use last year.
According to police data, there were only two cases.
The remaining cases continue to be related to violations of the Highway Code, such as right turns, traffic light violations, illegal overtaking, and traffic sign violations.
Additionally, it was found that three out of seven cases of pedestrians who lost their lives after being struck by a passing vehicle were due to their own fault, specifically in the way they crossed the road.
The reduction in deaths over the past two years (18% in 2022) is largely attributed to the introduction of the photo-signalling system, the well-known cameras.
However, it is also linked to the intensification of targeted inspections and campaigns by the Police.
Due to the cameras, police officers are more actively engaged in checking drivers on the roads, the “Z” police team has been established, whose members use high-displacement motorcycles and can move swiftly and quickly, and campaigns are now aimed at identifying specific violations responsible for causing road collisions.
There is significant debate about whether the fine for running a red light should be reduced or increased.
While before the quadruple fatal accident in Limassol, the prevailing trend in Parliament and the Ministry of Transport was to decrease or at least maintain it at current levels, however, after the tragic incident, the handling of the violation has changed.
A bill has already been submitted so that anyone stopping their vehicle within the pedestrian crossing area at traffic lights and beyond it will be punished with a €500 fine if passed by Parliament.
In 2024, as of today, we have had four collisions, two fewer than in 2023, and seven fatalities, one more than in 2023.
Seven fatalities include the victims of the quadruple fatal accident in Limassol, in which an entire family was killed in a severe collision in the early hours of New Year’s Day. For this accident, one person is facing serious charges in court.
