Suggestions for measures that will bring about a reduction in deaths and serious injuries were recently submitted to the Road Safety Council by the motorcyclists themselves, after the heavy death toll they pay every year.
Already this year to date, seven motorcyclists have been lost on the asphalt, while last year throughout 2025 12 motorcycle drivers or passengers were killed.
During the last meeting of the Road Safety Council, the president of the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation and road safety ambassador for 2026, Adonis Christofides, made a presentation with suggestions to save motorcyclists' lives and reduce serious injuries. Among other things, there is a suggestion for the withdrawal of old motorcycles, subsidizing their equipment, improving the road network and stricter policing, especially in villages, with better training of drivers in first aid.
Motorcyclists themselves recommend a number of actions and goals to reduce fatal road collisions, such as reducing the likelihood of a rider being involved in a fall or collision (active safety) and reducing the likelihood of serious injury or fatal outcome during and after the collision (passive safety).
As far as active security is concerned, the suggestions in Mr. Christofides' proposal include:
-Training and improvement of motorcycle handling ability (approved driving schools)
-Training in risk assessment and emergency braking (driving schools)
-Use of motorcycles with safer ABS / Traction Control
collision avoidance systems-Incentives to retire old dangerous motorcycles
These measures are estimated to bring Europe a 22-31% reduction in fatal conflicts and 34-42% fewer serious conflicts
-Improvement of the road network and safer
infrastructure-Implementation of the Highway Code and prevention of dangerous behaviour (defensive driving)
For passive security, the recommendations concern:
-Use of an EC22.06 certified helmet (grant incentives to be given)
-Use of CE certified protective equipment such as airbag systems, jackets with chest and spine protection, CE boots/shoes (not sports), CE gloves and CE pants
-Knowledge and application of first aid
According to international studies cited by the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation, the helmet contributes to the reduction of the risk of death by 37 – 42% and from 60 – 70% to the reduction of serious head injuries.
The ABS system in the brakes seemed to contribute to the reduction of fatal collisions by 32 – 41%, while the importance of proper training of motorcyclists is also highlighted. As it is found, 25 – 33% of the deaths of drivers and passengers of motorcyclists concern improperly licensed riders (Sources: WHO – Road Safety Reports NHTSA – Motorcycle Safety).
What they propose to save lives
The Cyprus Motorcycle Federation recommends that incentives be given for the withdrawal of old motorcycles that do not have ABS, as well as incentives for the purchase of helmets with high safety standards (MIPS), in an effort to reduce the deaths and serious injuries of motorcycle riders.
They also recommend the certification of driving schools with a special unified training program by the TOM with the contribution of the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation. Another suggestion is to change the way of examining obtaining a driver's license by adopting a specific agenda and not by the duration. Furthermore, they ask for the training of motorcyclists in first aid, as is done in European countries. In Germany, a certified seminar of about nine teaching hours is held, in Switzerland a compulsory 10-hour seminar before the theoretical exam, in Austria 6-hour life-saving training in an emergency, in Denmark there is an 8-hour CPR and road safety course, in Norway there is compulsory first aid training for young drivers, and in Slovenia, Hungary and the Baltic countries there are corresponding mandatory requirements.
One of the measures they believe will help is the improvement of road infrastructure, the implementation of stricter controls, with the recommendation that policing be extended to small communities outside large urban centers.
According to international studies cited by the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation, the helmet contributes to the reduction of the risk of death by 37 – 42% and from 60 – 70% to the reduction of serious head injuries.
The ABS system in the brakes seemed to contribute to the reduction of fatal collisions by 32 – 41%, while the importance of proper training of motorcyclists is also highlighted. As it is found, 25 – 33% of the deaths of drivers and passengers of motorcyclists concern improperly licensed riders (Sources: WHO – Road Safety Reports NHTSA – Motorcycle Safety).
What they propose to save lives
The Cyprus Motorcycle Federation recommends that incentives be given for the withdrawal of old motorcycles that do not have ABS, as well as incentives for the purchase of helmets with high safety standards (MIPS), in an effort to reduce the deaths and serious injuries of motorcycle riders.
They also recommend the certification of driving schools with a special unified training program by the TOM with the contribution of the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation. Another suggestion is to change the way of examining obtaining a driver's license by adopting a specific agenda and not by the duration. Furthermore, they ask for the training of motorcyclists in first aid, as is done in European countries. In Germany, a certified seminar of about nine teaching hours is held, in Switzerland a compulsory 10-hour seminar before the theoretical exam, in Austria 6-hour life-saving training in an emergency, in Denmark there is an 8-hour CPR and road safety course, in Norway there is compulsory first aid training for young drivers, and in Slovenia, Hungary and the Baltic countries there are corresponding mandatory requirements.
One of the measures they believe will help is the improvement of road infrastructure, the implementation of stricter controls, with the recommendation that policing be extended to small communities outside large urban centers.
