Filenews 8 December 2021 - byMichalis Hadjivasilis
One in three deaths on the roads is due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs. This is what the statistics for the years 2018-2020 show, and this year is expected to close to see whether drivers continue to defy the risks of these substances.
On the occasion of the campaign launched by the Traffic Police last Monday and will be completed on December 12, the numbers show that many drivers, to an alarming degree, consume alcohol or drugs or both substances together and get behind the wheel, with dire consequences. This week, members of traffic police departments in all provinces will conduct driver screenings regarding alcohol and drugs.
According to the Traffic Police, the campaign is part of the pan-European Roadpol network and aims to prevent serious and fatal road collisions caused by alcohol and drug use.
According to traffic data, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is the second cause of fatal and serious collisions. The first cause remains speeding combined with illegal turning right. According to the analyses, more than 10 people per year perish because they were involved in a traffic collision as a result of drinking alcohol or drugs or a combination of both.
The Police have stepped up their checks on drivers, especially when it is found that they were involved in a car accident or their behaviour is not appropriate, when they are interred in a normal check procedure, on whether they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. More than 400 people are found to be driving each year while they have used drugs, following targeted checks, while alcohol tests are multiple for drivers, especially at night. In the Pafos district it was found that most complaints are made after a narco-test to drivers who were either involved in a car accident, or their road behaviour was not normal.
It is noted that the Traffic Police will intensify its controls mainly for speeding and alcohol consumption, as the Christmas and New Year holidays approach.
