Filenews 15 December 2020
Expectations are very high for the installation of the system and Transport Minister Giannis Karousos is optimistic about its effectiveness.
In an article, the Minister of Transport refers to the plan for targeted actions, including the photo-pointing system, and examples from other countries.
It also recalled that in Cyprus, only 53.5% reduction in road collisions was achieved in the only 12 places where the devices of the system that operated in 2006-2007 were placed.
The statement.
Minister for Transport: How the Photo-stamping system will reduce the lives lost on the roads
Every time a human life is lost on cypriot roads, we reflect on how unfair this death was and how many "whys" he left to his loved ones.
Is the value of human life priceless, incalculable and incalculable?
The Road Safety Council adopted last September the strategic road safety plan and adopted the European target of reducing road deaths by 50% and reducing serious injuries by 50% in the decade 2021-2030.
The plan includes 28 individual policies and 158 targeted actions including the photo-pointing system which will make a significant contribution to reducing road collisions at the points where the 110 cameras will operate on a global basis. By installing the photo-marking system we will improve the level of road safety particularly in urban centres where the majority of fatal road collisions occur.
In addition to recording the excess at the speed limit, the system will process and record additional violations of the Highway Traffic Code, including non-use of the safety belt, non-use of helmets by motorcyclists, use of a mobile phone, non-compliance with the traffic light when the colour is red and breach of the waiting line at traffic lights.
Research, studies and official statistics have shown both in Cyprus and abroad that in the places where traffic cameras are installed, road accidents that save human lives are significantly reduced and significant socio-economic benefits are created.
Typically, in the United Kingdom it has been observed that at a distance of 500 metres from the locations of the photo-stamping systems, road collisions have decreased by between 58% and 68%. In addition, according to the same study, it has been observed that for every 1000 photo-ting cameras installed in the UK, fatal collisions are reduced by 190, road collisions by 1,130 and serious injuries by 330. In Ireland with a population of 4.5 million, 53 devices in the first years of operation of the system saved 24 lives annually. Indeed, a specific study concludes that the benefits outweigh the costs on a 5:1 scale with an economic benefit to the 70m-strong economy.
In Cyprus, in the only 12 places where the devices of the photo-stamping system that operated in 2006-2007 were installed, a 53.5% reduction in road collisions was achieved.
In addition to reducing road traffic collisions and the positives that will result in saving lives, the installation of the photo-point system will also have benefits for the country's economy, as it is a given that any loss of life or injury resulting from road collisions has a negative impact on the economy. In particular, the cost of road collisions for 2019, where there were 52 fatal accidents, 340 serious injuries and 343 minor injuries, amounted to €210.3m. If the five-year period 2015-2919 is taken into account, the cost reaches €1.1bn.
This calculation is made in the database analysed in a relevant report of the European Commission in relation to the external cost of transport which shows that for Cyprus the economic cost, per fatality is €1.83m, per serious injury €315,000, and per light injury at around €25,000.
Therefore, if we achieve even a 20% reduction in fatal accidents, serious and minor injuries through this system, in addition to rescuing human animals, the economic benefit to the economy on an annual basis through this system will exceed €41 million.
Expectations are very high for the installation of the system and we are optimistic about its effectiveness, which in combination with other actions of the Strategic Plan for Road Safety for 2021-2030, such as increasing penalties, increasing drug testing, improving the way and control for obtaining a driving licence, reducing speed limits in residential areas and all other actions and policies , not only will human lives be saved but they will also bring significant socio-economic benefits.
The implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 begins with the best examples having an important tool, the photo-marking system, which will make a significant contribution to achieving our goals, primarily the safety and protection of human life.
The success of the signing of the Convention is due to the collective and involved efforts of many Ministries and Departments of the State for many years to come. That is why I would like to congratulate and thank all those who have helped in every way to achieve this individual objective. I would like to thank both the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Ms. Emily Yolitis, and the Cyprus Police for all the cooperation and to congratulate in particular the Deputy Director of the Department of Electromechanical Services, Mr. Markos Markou, and the officers of the Department of Electromechanical Services who undertook the implementation of the project as the Contracting Authority.
