Pafos Live 2 June 2024
The Police announce a week of awareness and policing for distraction while driving and tackling hands-free driving (use of mobile phone or other object) with the ultimate goal of reducing serious and fatal injuries in road traffic collisions and raising awareness among drivers.
The Pancyprian traffic controls will start from tomorrow, Monday, June 03, 2024 and will last until Sunday, June 09, 2024.
As is well known, both internationally and locally, driver distraction is one of the most important factors contributing to increasing the likelihood of being involved in a road traffic collision, as reaction time in the event of an emergency is dramatically reduced. Driving using a mobile phone also plays a decisive role.
Moreover, it should be noted that several authoritative studies have shown that using a mobile phone while driving significantly reduces:
· maintaining the correct position on the road
- maintaining the correct/predicted speed
- reaction time, resulting in delayed brake use
- Judging and recognition of safe distances
- the general perception of traffic
It is also noted that driver distraction while driving, which results in careless driving, was the first cause of fatal road collisions during the three-year period 2021 – 2023, at a rate of 16.2%. As far as serious road collisions are concerned, during the three-year period 2021 – 2023, it was also the first cause of their cause, at a rate of 21.3%.
In addition, during continuous road inspections, zero tolerance will be shown to traffic violations that are the main causes of fatal and serious road collisions (failure to wear a seat belt/protective helmet, violation of speed limits, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs).
