Filenews 7 February 2026 - by Michalis Chatzivasilis
A measure that would put a brake on the increased speeds of drivers on the highways and was put on the table 15 years ago, now seems to be being promoted in an effort to reduce traffic accidents and especially fatal accidents.
It is about the installation of cameras at the beginning and end of the highways that connect the cities of free Cyprus and which will calculate the average speed of the drivers, so that if it is found that they have exceeded the allowed speed limit, they can be reported. This is a measure that is widely applied abroad and has brought reductions in very high speeds on roads that connect cities and especially in those where track speeds are recorded.
According to the director of the Traffic Police, Haris Evripidou, this system works by calculating the speed in the distance travelled. From the moment a driver enters a highway, it will be recorded by the camera. If, for example, with the calculated permissible speed, it takes a certain time to reach the beginning of the other city and the camera at its entrance records that he arrived earlier, then he will be issued with an out-of-court order. Today the normal speed limit on all highways is 100km, however a driver is tacitly allowed to move up to 120km. On the basis of this speed, the time it takes a driver will be measured and if he arrives earlier, he will be considered to have exceeded the permissible limit and will be reported. It is noted that if someone exceeds 120km and is reported, then the out-of-court measure counts from 100km.
The Traffic Police estimates that together with the other measures promoted with the cameras, deaths on the roads will be reduced. As "F" wrote yesterday, the amendment of the legislation is being promoted so that mobile cameras with the necessary changes to the software system, record drivers moving on the roads with a mobile phone in hand or without a seat belt. The loss of life due to these two causes, i.e. the use of a mobile phone while driving and the non-use of a seatbelt, are high every year, since more than 1/3 of the deaths per year are due to these bad habits.
Regarding the measure of immediate withdrawal of the driver's license from people who test positive, Mr. Evripidou explained that this will be done by those who have exceeded the limit in a percentage where the violation is not solved out of court and have committed the offense twice within twelve months. According to the legislation, today the permissible alcohol limit is 21μg (micrograms) per 100ml of blood/exhalation. If someone is found up to 70μg then a court order is not sent, but it is regulated out of court, depending on the percentage. From 71μg and above then the driver will have to be held accountable before the Justice. In the event that a driver refuses to give a breath sample, then the case is forwarded to the court, which can impose a fine and penalty points. For new drivers, the limit is 9μg and from then on the case is taken to court, while the offender will automatically be deprived of his driver's license.
