Filenews 18 November 2024
Last year, Cyprus, along with Poland, recorded the largest decrease in road deaths in the EU. In fact, the decrease reached an unprecedented number, as deaths reached 33, with the percentage decrease reaching 36%. If compared to the -18% achieved in 2022, then we are talking about an overall reduction in deaths by 50%, which was the goal of the decade 2021-2030.
This year's figures are frightening, since the deaths have already reached 43 (not counting today's fatal one with a 69-year-old victim in Limassol, since the causes are not yet known) with the rate amounting to 25% compared to last year and statistically corresponding to one fatal road accident every seven days. This increase cannot be explained by those responsible in simple terms, that is, nothing has changed to justify it, so the reasons need to be examined in more depth.
One explanation given by the Traffic Department and Public Works is that in only two accidents this year seven lives have been lost. Four people were killed in the terrible accident that happened on New Year's Day in Limassol where a whole family was wiped out. Three other young children were killed yesterday when they were in a vehicle with two other friends.
Indicative of how tragic and how difficult things are at the moment is the following fact: Until last September there were 29 accident victims. Today we mourn 43 of our fellow human beings. In less than two months, 14 lives were unjustly lost.
These deaths do not count those who died within the areas controlled by the British Bases, while there are four other deaths on the roads for which it has not yet been ascertained where they are responsible, i.e. whether the accident in which they were involved or other pathological causes are to blame.
What is proven is that the measures decided on September 11 at the meeting of the Road Safety Council, when there was again an increase in deaths, proved to be at least half-measures, since they did not work at all. During the session, it was decided to intensify policing and to provide more systematic information, enlightenment and education through targeted campaigns.
At the same time, it was found that a large tax on asphalt is paid by vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and motorcyclists, while it did not focus on other causes such as speed and alcohol, so almost everything was left to the cameras.
Indeed, as it turned out, since the implementation of the photo-tagging system, there had been a large reduction in deaths on the roads (in 2022 and 2023), however, this year with the system at full growth, this tremendous increase is recorded, so the measures need to be redesigned.
