Filenews 21 December 2021 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
The problems created with personal data in relation to the photo-labelling system (traffic police cameras) have been overcome and from yesterday those who were recorded will receive a warning from the 1st of the year out of court. Those who were recorded from 25 October until yesterday will have their details deleted.
The competent Services record with satisfaction the reduction of violations by drivers from the cameras (fixed and mobile) which shows a significant compliance, in a year that seems essentially "lost" for the Traffic Police, since there has been practically no significant reduction in deaths on the roads. This year until yesterday we are mourning 44 dead on the asphalt in 43 fatal road collisions, while in the same period last year the dead were 46 and by 2020 they stood at 48. It is noteworthy that 14 of the 44 dead, concern motorcyclists and six other pedestrians.
The issue was discussed yesterday during the meeting of the Road Safety Council, which was chaired by the Minister of Transport, Yiannis Karousos, with the participation of the Minister of Justice Stefi Drakou, police officials, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth and other competent services.
As Mr. Karousos explained, "the most important tool at our disposal and confirms our assessment that it can save human lives lost on the road network, is the photo-labelling system, which has been implemented on a pilot basis since October 25, 2021. The duration of the pilot phase is three months and it uses eight cameras, four mobile and four in fixed points. The system in full development will include 90 fixed cameras in 30 locations nationwide, as well as 20 mobile cameras."
According to him, the data from the first weeks of pilot operation of the cameras are encouraging and prove that citizens have gradually become familiar, since the violations have been significantly reduced. Characteristically, the Transport Minister mentioned that, from the fixed cameras, at the beginning of the implementation of the measure, an average of 804 complaints were recorded per day, with the number later falling to 703, and then decreased more and reached 423, on average. In other words, there has been a reduction of 47%. It is worth mentioning that violations at the points of fixed cameras, such as a combination of speed and a red light violation, have been reduced from an average of 4.2 per day to 0.9.
Regarding the road collisions involving motorcyclists, the Minister of Transport referred to the number of actions underway to reduce them, taking into account that, according to the report of the Road Safety PIN programme, for the period 2018-2020, Cyprus recorded the highest death rate of young motorcyclists who did not wear a helmet, which amounted to 50%, while the statistics for the three-year period 2017-2019 are also of concern, which shows that of all deaths in road collisions, 59% were motorcycle drivers and passengers.
At the same time, according to Mr. Karousos, a grant plan for protective equipment for motorcyclists for the period 2022-2024 is being promoted for implementation, with a budget of €1 million. and €50,000 (€350,000 per year). The aim is to subsidize all types of protective equipment, with priority given to the grant for protective equipment of the vest-airbag type. The plan will enter into force in the 1st half of 2022. Also, the Minister of Transport underlined that in 2022, actions will be intensified that concern other vulnerable groups of the road network such as cyclists and pedestrians. The data collected are already being evaluated and, in consultation with other services, significant changes are being made. At the same time, he stated that he will take the initiative for meetings with the Minister of Education and the Minister of Defence, in the presence of other competent Services to strengthen educational tools on road safety issues. Mr. Karousos also sent the message ahead of the Christmas holidays: "This year, let's all reach our destination and our loved ones safely."
On her part, the Minister of Justice said that issues such as photo-labelling, which will officially start its operation from the 1st of the new year, the successful institution of ambassadors, which will continue, actions that should be targeted at the causes of accidents, but also the necessary amendments to be made to the legislations, were examined. in order to address the gaps where gaps have been identified. It is noted that for 2022, Representatives of Road Safety were appointed Alexis Demetriou and Michalis Sofokleous.
Measures for motorcycle drivers
According to Mr. Karousos, specific actions and amendments to legislation have been prepared and promoted, which include, among others, amendments to the Driving License Law 2021 and concern:
- The expiry of the student driving license after two years from its issue, in order to limit the phenomenon of riding a large motorcycle without having a regular license.
- The holder of a student motorcycle license will be able to use the road network only with the accompaniment of a trainer.
- Motorcycle drivers for professional purposes should necessarily use specific protective equipment.
- Criminalisation of driving during work if the driver does not hold a driving license of the category of vehicle he works with/ drives.
Also, new legislation is being promoted for instructors and Driving Schools that will include:
- Post-secondary attendance in recognized schools for driving instructors.
- Upgrading of the means that driving schools must have with the introduction of modern learning systems.
- Lifelong training of driver trainers and continuous evaluation.
