Filenews 26 March 2025 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
A decrease in fatal road collisions but also in serious and minor injuries, is recorded by the official data of the Traffic Police for the five-year period 2020-2024. With the exception of last year, where there was an increase in road fatalities, road injuries have been steadily decreasing, which is considered positive and reflects the continuous efforts to reduce serious injuries. As reported to us by the Traffic Department, serious injuries also mean people in wheelchairs, since many are stuck after a collision. The decrease in deaths and injuries is attributed to a number of factors, mainly the increased and targeted measures taken by the Police, the operation of photolabeling and the road awareness that is slowly consolidating.
According to Traffic Police data, in 2020 there were 48 fatal road collisions with 48 victims, 185 serious accidents with 211 seriously injured, 108 minor accidents with 218 injured and 165 with property damage. The total number of accidents for 2020 was 506 and the number of injured was 477.
For 2021, 44 fatal road collisions were recorded with 45 fatalities, 207 serious accidents with 252 injured, 75 minor accidents with 194 injured and 96 with damage. Total collisions 422 and total injured 491. In 2022 we had 35 fatalities with 37 dead, 225 serious collisions with 253 injured, 112 minor accidents with 215 injured and 183 with damages alone. Total collisions 555 with 505 injuries.
For 2023 we had the fewest fatal road collisions ever, as they decreased to 32 with 34 dead, 192 serious accidents with 232 injured, 96 light traffic accidents with 202 injured and 186 only with damage. Total accidents 506 with 468 injured. For the past year, it had 36 fatal road collisions with 41 fatalities, another 185 serious road accidents with 226 injured, 86 light accidents with 174 injured and 170 with damages alone. A total of 477 traffic accidents were recorded with 441 injured.
The reduction of deaths and injuries from traffic accidents helps to carry out targeted campaigns now where there is a serious problem with specific violations that cost lives. As recently discussed in the Road Safety Council, there is a problem, as recorded by the accident study team, in the use of a mobile phone while driving, in the non-use of a seat belt and helmet and in excessive speeding. That is why an increase in out-of-court cases is requested, an issue that will be studied by a special committee of experts.
Last year's increase in deaths is due to the relaxation of the photolabelling system with the questioning of some out-of-court cases, the quadruple fatal accident that happened on New Year's Day in Limassol and the fact that many would have lived if they wore a belt or helmet.
The extension for the repayment of extrajudicial payments from the cameras expires
In the meantime, the extension given by the Police regarding the repayment of extrajudicial payments from the cameras, which have been pending for more than two years, expires in six days. Since last January, when it was announced that criminal prosecutions in the Courts of those who do not settle their out-of-court cases will begin after March 31, about 50,000 have rushed and paid the fine.
According to the Police, the affected cases concern the period between 1/1/2022 – 30/9/2024 and with a new announcement urges the owners of the vehicles to make sure to check, to find out whether their vehicle has been registered by the photolabeling system and then settle any outstanding issues.
The injustice of locating and paying extrajudicial fines is voluntary, i.e. the citizen is not obliged and can check through the website of the managing company whether an out-of-court case is pending against him and then whether he wants to pay it.
In the event that the owner of a vehicle finds that he was not driving his vehicle himself, at the time of recording the violation, he may and is subject to a legal obligation, to name the driver. The suggestion of the driver can be made directly, electronically, on the website in question, without the need to be involved in a bureaucratic process.
The Police warn that in case the owner of a vehicle does not take care to pay any extrajudicial fine against him from the photolabeling system, a criminal file will be formed and he will be subject to criminal prosecution, without further delay.
