Filenews 11 April 2025 - by Dora Christodoulou
The bill submitted by Paphos MP, Chrysanthos Savvidis, which concerns zero alcohol for young drivers, who have been behind the wheel for less than three years, is currently being worked out for legal and technical processing. On Monday, a meeting of all those involved in the matter will be held, in order to make the appropriate processing so that the proposal will return to the Parliament's Transport Committee for the final audit before it is submitted to the plenary for a vote. The reason for this process is the fact that many ministries and departments are involved in this bill and require a particularly large amount of work and coordination.
The aim of this proposal, Mr. Savvidis told "F", is to protect young drivers, who often do not have the necessary experience to manage dangerous driving situations, especially when they are under the influence of alcohol.
The Police, the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Road Transport and the Legal Service agreed to the proposal, although there are some legal issues that will be resolved so that it can be brought to a vote in the Plenary soon, he concluded.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of yesterday's case of the bus driver who tested positive for drugs while preparing to take students on an educational trip, Mr. Savvidis said that on the issue of drivers who are found to be positive for drugs, he has submitted a proposal that is already being taken to the plenary session of the Parliament for a vote.
Under the proposal, he said, drivers who test positive for drugs will be required to undergo a three-month substance rehabilitation program. And if they are found driving under the influence of drugs again during these three months, then they will lose their driving licence forever, he concluded.
