Filenews 20 June 2022
The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Yiannis Karousos, expressed deep concern about the increased number of fatal road collisions this year, who chaired a wide-ranging meeting where decisions were taken towards improving road safety. It is worth noting that this year 60% of the fatalities involve foreign tourists or permanent residents of Cyprus from third countries, while of the six fatalities with motorcyclists, five victims did not wear a helmet. Mr. Karousos also pointed out that based on the data, about 41% of fatalities this year occurred from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. On his part, the Deputy Chief of Police, Dimitris Demetriou, stressed that there is an increase compared to the same period last year by 33% in fatal road collisions and by 37.5% in deaths. "In 16 days we count eight dead, one dead every two days," he said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, the Commissioner of the Citizen Mr. Panagiotis Sentonas, the Deputy Chief of Police Mr. Dimitris Demetriou and representatives of Police Departments, officials of the Road Transport Department, the Road Safety Unit, representatives of the Cyprus Police, OEB, CCCI and POVEK, the Union of Municipalities, the Cyprus Youth Organization, the Cyprus Youth Organization, the Service Station Owners' Association, the Drivers' Associations of Owners and Instructors of Driving Schools, the Federation of Motorcyclists, the Road Safety Ambassador Mr. Michalis Sofokleous and representatives of the Friends of the Traffic Police and the Organization Reaction.
Speaking after the end of the meeting, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr. Yiannis Karousos, said that today was the first of a series of meetings to be held, aiming to create a social alliance for the improvement of road safety.
The participation and recommendations of all competent bodies, said Mr. Karousos, aim at taking decisions to improve road safety for the benefit of citizens. "The reason we convened this meeting is simple: We are very concerned about the increased fatal road collisions for this year. Despite the fact that, based on statistics, from 2011 to 2021, we had a 36.6% reduction in fatalities in Cyprus, with 17th place in Europe in the reduction of fatalities, as well as a reduction in serious injuries to 55%, while in the EU and Europe there was almost no reduction in serious injuries", underlined Mr. Karousos.
He noted that this year, so far, we are at the levels of 2018. That is why, he said, it is a common belief that we need to take more measures and initiatives. He added that "several proposals are pending in parliament with amendments tabled by the Ministry of Transport, such as changes to driving licences, additional protective equipment for those who ride a motorcycle for professional purposes. In the coming weeks we will also announce the grant scheme for the motorcyclist body airbag, which we believe will significantly improve the road safety of motorcyclists. We have the application that has been completed and enters a trial phase in the next few days, in which an automatic recording by the citizens of the black and problematic points will be made and the competent Authority will be immediately informed to improve them.
There have been many changes in recent years in the field of road safety, but especially this year, we are concerned about the fact of increased fatalities, about 60% of which are foreign tourists or permanent residents of Cyprus from third countries. Of the six fatalities we've had this year involving motorcyclists, five were without a helmet. I appeal to everyone, to the parents, to the children, to urge the users of the motorcycle to wear their helmet because it saves lives."
Referring to the suggestions discussed at today's meeting, the Minister highlighted in particular the initiatives concerning the proper information and the cultivation of a culture and proper road awareness.
As he noted, tomorrow an amendment to the road safety legislation will be put to public consultation, whereby in actions to promote and advertise services or products related to road safety, it will be mandatory for a percentage of advertising to indicate a message about road safety. In this way, explained the Minister of Transport, we seek to have as our allies the bodies and businesses that are related to road safety and the road network. This is a similar practice to health markings on tobacco products.
In addition, the Minister said that in the coming days there will be a meeting with the Cyprus Broadcasting Authority, but also with the mass media, in order to be informed and participate in the collective social effort.
Mr. Karousos said that, based on the data, about 41% of the fatalities this year occurred from 4 pm to 8 pm and called on all road users to show the necessary caution, especially during those hours of the day.
He added that the Ministry of Transport will allocate a larger budget from its Budget to road safety issues, with the aim of creating information campaigns and programmes, as well as scientific studies that will contribute to better decision-making.
Finally, Mr. Karousos referred in particular to the Road Safety Week for National Guardsmen, which takes place from today until June 24, on the occasion of some fatalities recorded in relation to militiamen. This was preceded by meetings with the Ministers of Defence and Justice, where decisions were taken, which are gradually being implemented. This week, the Minister said, various information actions will be carried out in the camps by all the Services and The Road Safety Ambassadors. Also, the incentives decided by the Ministry of Defence to grant to the militiamen for the use of public passenger transport for the movement to and from the camp will be put in place. We believe, concluded the Minister of Transport, that with the right information and the incentives that will be given to the militiamen we will encourage them to use safer ways for their movements for their own protection.
For his part, the Deputy Chief of Police, Mr. Dimitris Demetriou, said that since the beginning of the year there have been 20 fatal road collisions with 22 dead. "There is an increase compared to the same period last year by 33% in fatal road collisions and by 37.5% in deaths. There has certainly been an upsurge in the last month when it comes to fatal road collisions. Specifically, within 16 days we count eight dead, one dead every two days. The month of June is characterized as black", Mr. Demetriou pointed out.
Speaking about the use of a seat belt while driving, the Deputy Chief of Police said that of the nine drivers and car passengers, "six who died did not have a seat belt, a figure of around 66.33% and one wonders, if in 2022, why we should not use the seat belt. And the most tragic, among the dead, their ages are 20, 22, 23, 32 and 39 years old, who did not have a seat belt. I am confidently telling you that at least five of the six would be among us today, just if they used their belts. It is inconceivable that we do not use the seat belt inside the cars. It is a law of physics, in a road collision our body will leave its place. Abroad there are no statistics on deaths due to not using a seat belt because they take it for granted. In Cyprus, unfortunately, the number of people who lose their lives because they do not have a seat belt is too large."
