Filenews 11 May 2022 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
A rapid increase in fatal accidents is recorded this year and the Traffic Police fears the worst, due to the widespread use of motorcycles due to summer and the arrival of tourists.
This year, up until yesterday, there were 12 fatal road collisions with 13 dead compared to eight casualties in the same period last year. This is an increase of 62.5%. Although it is a short period, alarming signals are being sent about what is to come, especially after the lifting of movement restrictions due to the pandemic. Last year we mourned a total of 45 lives lost on the streets and in 2020 another 48, in a time of pandemic and with prolonged lockdowns.
The data show the cold and relentless situation that is prescribed, despite the efforts made by the Traffic Police and have resulted in a reduction in the number of dead motorcyclists for this year, in contrast to other years. A remarkable element this year that the Traffic Police is studying in order to strengthen its campaigns targeted, is that most fatal accidents occur with a single vehicle involved, that is, they are not the result of a collision with another vehicle. This explains why 20% of the first cause of death in road collisions is recorded as careless driving. This is followed by driving under the influence of alcohol, which is why drivers' checks will be stepped up.
At the same time, one of the sad figures recorded this year is that nine of the 13 dead were aged between 14 and 39. The blood toll is also heavy for pedestrians, as they are considered the most vulnerable group of road users. From 2020 until today, 21 of our fellow human beings have lost their lives as a result of a road collision, trying to cross the road. The remarkable thing is that some pedestrians were killed by their own carelessness while a significant number of pedestrians lost their lives due to the carelessness of the drivers, such as the latest accident in the free area of Famagusta, where a 46-year-old woman from Sweden lost her life.
What emerges from the analysis of the data is that the cameras have not helped reduce road collisions, since only eight are currently in operation.
