Filenews 2 September 2023
The puzzle with the phototagging system is completed in one year, since by July 2024 another 66 cameras should be installed at 23 fixed points. Police footage shows that adjustments are being made to the points where the cameras will be placed.
The one district that will not be monitored by fixed cameras became two, since apart from the free area of Famagusta, which will be policed only with mobile phones, the district of Morphou is now added. The initial plans included the installation of fixed cameras at three points in the province of Morfou, two on the Nicosia – Troodos road and one on the Atsa – Marathasa road. Finally, due to the construction of the Astromeritis-Troodos road, the area will be policed only by mobile cameras.
Changes to the fixed points will also occur in Larnaka, since the initial plans for the installation of cameras on the Larnaka-Dhekelia road are abandoned due to works. We will also have changes in two places in Nicosia. While in the original design cameras would have been installed by the Good Afternoon lights, eventually due to works and abolition of the lights, the plan is cancelled and they will probably be transferred to the junction of Athalassis and Nikis Avenues (Acropolis lights). Also, the cameras that would be placed on the lights next to the Water Supply tower in Strovolos, will be transferred to the photo-controlled junction of Archangelos and Makedonitissis Avenues (lights next to Apollonio). The cameras at this point will only record speed.
In Limassol cameras will be installed: L. Nikos Pattichi and Spyrou Kyprianou, four cameras. 28th October Avenue and L. Iakovou Tompazis, three cameras. Kolonaki Avenue – Agios Athanasios Avenue – Griva Digeni Avenue, three cameras. L. Vasileos Georgiou A' – L. Christaki Kranou, three cameras. L. Arch. Makarios – 28th October Avenue, two cameras only on 28th October. Amathus Avenue behind Arsinoe Hotel, two cameras. Amathus Avenue with Ariadnis Street, two cameras.
In Larnaka the points are: Intersection of Spyrou Avenue Kyprianou with Alexandrou Panagouli Avenue: Four cameras will be installed. Intersection of Archbishop Makarios Avenue and Filiou Tsigaridi Street: Two cameras will be installed. Intersection of Artemis and Faneromeni avenues: Four cameras will be installed. Intersection of Eleftherias Avenues with Iliados and Spy[1]rou Kyprianou (Aradippou): Four cameras will be installed.
In Paphos the cameras will be placed at the following junctions: Avroviou Avenue – Yiannou Kranidioti – Georgiou Savva, four[1] cameras. L. Ellados – L. Dimokratias – L. T. Papadopoulos, four cameras. Athinon Avenue – Christodoulos Sozou Avenue, two cameras. Agioi Anargyroi Avenue – L. Spyrou Kyprianou – L. Agapinoros, four cameras. L. Chlorakas – L. Griva Digeni – L. Agios Georgios, two cameras.
The points can be differentiated depending on the decisions of the Police, in cooperation with the Public Works and the Electromechanical Service. The Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services has already "given the green light" to proceed with the second phase of installation of fixed cameras, which is the last. Currently, 20 mobile cameras are also in operation, which are placed on motorways, on the secondary road network, but also within cities, in places where road traffic collisions occur or are likely to occur.
As recently stated by the assistant director of the Traffic Department and coordinator for the issue of phototagging, Haris Evripidou, in the last year and a half since the implementation of the camera system, fatal road collisions have been reduced by 39% and serious ones by more than 50%. The implementation of the system, as shown by surveys at European level, shows that the reduction is beyond the 20% that occurred in any countries where these systems were installed.
