Filenews 4 January 2024
Since the launch of the photo-labelling system, nearly 20,000 drivers have been reported for violating the red light.
Close to 70% of them were moving in a straight direction and the rest with an arrow for turning right, while there were also complaints about violating the lights after red and the pedestrian crossing line.
According to "F" information, these data were prepared by the Traffic Police and forwarded to the Ministry of Justice so that they can be available to the Road Safety Council at next Monday's meeting with the participation of the Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeadis.
As the Minister told "F", during the meeting with Public Works there will also be a discussion about the arrows that allow drivers to turn right and whether anything can be done to avoid road collisions for this reason. As Mr. Vafeadis noted, many fatalities are caused by turning right, so there will be a discussion on whether there are ways to reduce this risk.
Regarding the debate opened in Parliament on the reduction of the extrajudicial fine of €300 when someone violates the red light, he said that there is a proposal for a law on this issue. "In the Road Safety Council there is an ongoing discussion. I think crossing red is a huge risk for everyone. This is a serious offence for which the fine should not be changed." What is being discussed, he said, "is the issue of intermediate violations (white line and pedestrian crossing)," clarifying that no decision has yet been taken.
In the meantime, Public Works may proceed with immediate adjustment of the lights at the intersection where four lives were lost on New Year's Day, until more permanent measures are decided.
"F" reports that one of the solutions being studied is that at the photo-controlled intersection of Yiannis Kranidioti and Agias Anastasias streets, where the multiple fatality occurred, the lights will be adjusted to become one-way, as most traffic lights now operate at main road junctions. The aim with the setting is to pass every time it lights green, drivers only in one direction and not those coming from the opposite.
If these lights had been adjusted in this way, perhaps the accident would have been avoided and four lives would not have been mourned. It is noted that this arrangement has been made by Public Works in recent years in many confluences controlled by traffic lights, with very good results, since road accidents were almost reduced to zero. This proposal is expected to be raised at next Monday's meeting between Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis and Public Works technocrats.
As Mr. Vafeadis stated yesterday to "F", the specific intersection at which the quadruple fatality occurred is immediately entering the black spots and it is a matter of priority to take immediate measures so that no more lives are lost. If it is decided to make changes at the point where it will take time, such as the construction of a roundabout, then we will find other solutions, immediate, until this is done, he noted. One consideration being made, the transport minister added, is the construction of curves near the intersection to reduce the speed of drivers.
