TRAFFIC ILLEGALITIES IN DROVES - ALMOST 37,000 OUT OF COURT NOTICES IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2026 -WHAT THE DATA SHOW ABOUT DRIVERS - 13/8 by Michalis Chatzivasilis
Despite hefty fines of €300 for some violations, drivers continue to break the law on the roads, with the Traffic Police lurking and making complaints.
The death toll this year in road collisions reached 25 after yesterday's loss of the 22-year-old, compared to 27 last year, with the Traffic Police intensifying its efforts to reduce serious and fatal road collisions. Among the measures implemented nationwide are the driver control campaigns, plus fixed and mobile cameras along with the other measures taken.
The numbers in this case always tell the truth about how Cypriot drivers behave, since in the first half of 2026 complaints reached 36,879. The following picture is also characteristic of the situation and the extent of the violations: In a pan-European speed control campaign, which also took place in Cyprus between 3 and 9 August, almost two thousand complaints were made by drivers for serious violations of the Road Traffic Code. Specifically, the following were reported:
⦁ 1457 drivers for speeding
⦁ 79 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol
⦁ 166 drivers for not being free hands while driving (use of mobile phone)
⦁ 165 persons for not wearing seat belts
⦁ 165 persons for not wearing seat belts
⦁ 79 motorcycle passengers for not wearing a protective helmet.
At the same time, according to data from the Traffic Police, from the first of the year until 30/6/2026, a total of 36.879 driver complaints were made, most of which were related to speeding, followed by driving with a mobile phone in hand and not using a seat belt. In particular, the complaints concerned:
At the same time, according to data from the Traffic Police, from the first of the year until 30/6/2026, a total of 36.879 driver complaints were made, most of which were related to speeding, followed by driving with a mobile phone in hand and not using a seat belt. In particular, the complaints concerned:
423 drivers who tested positive in a preliminary drug test
11 refused to give a sample for a preliminary drug test,
2,291 complaints about driving under the influence of alcohol (out-of-court + Court)
24,915 out-of-court complaints for speed limit violation
4,075 out-of-court complaints for not using a seat belt
615 out-of-court complaints for not using a protective helmet
4,549 out-of-court complaints for using a mobile phone while driving.
From the above data, it appears that many drivers mainly drove in the evening hours drunk or had consumed alcohol beyond the permissible limit, while despite the fact that careless driving, due to mobile phone use, is today the first cause of death in combination with speed, nevertheless many drivers continue to make both mistakes without thinking about the consequences.
In addition to the above complaints, there are also red light violations, illegal right turns that worsen the situation with fatalities, since these are one of the main causes of losing lives on the roads, an official pointed out. It is noted that there is an issue with the payment of extrajudicial fees, mainly from the cameras, as a result of which it is estimated that if the driver does not have a cost for his illegalities on the roads, then it is most likely that he will continue to break the law.
70,852 complaints in one year
Last year, more than 70,000 drivers reported traffic violations from those considered to be the main causes of loss of life on the roads.
The out-of-court notices issued on the spot by the members of the Traffic Police in 2025 are increased compared to 2024, while if the complaints from the fixed and mobile cameras are also counted, then one in four in Cyprus received an out-of-court notice last year. In total, last year, the Traffic Police handed out 70,852 out-of-court notices or sent cases to the Court involving drug-positive drivers (no out-of-court settlement is provided), as well as people who had twice as much alcohol as normal.
And in 2025 as this year, the first violation committed by Cypriot drivers is speeding, followed by the use of a mobile phone and the non-use of a seat belt. Specifically:
921 drivers found positive in preliminary drug test
60 refused to give a sample for a preliminary drug test
4,095 complaints about driving under the influence of alcohol (out-of-court + Court)
47,136 out-of-court complaints for speed limit violation
8,196 out-of-court complaints for not using a seat belt
1,954 out-of-court complaints for not using a protective helmet and
8,490 out-of-court complaints for using a mobile phone while driving.
It is clear from the above data that we have a recurring pattern in the illegalities of drivers who do not realize the dangers lurking on the roads, a competent police officer told "F", adding that the campaigns and controls will focus on these illegalities that bring serious road collisions. The more than four thousand drunk drivers caught in a year show the magnitude of the problem, he added, noting that these are the ones who are detected.
60 refused to give a sample for a preliminary drug test
4,095 complaints about driving under the influence of alcohol (out-of-court + Court)
47,136 out-of-court complaints for speed limit violation
8,196 out-of-court complaints for not using a seat belt
1,954 out-of-court complaints for not using a protective helmet and
8,490 out-of-court complaints for using a mobile phone while driving.
It is clear from the above data that we have a recurring pattern in the illegalities of drivers who do not realize the dangers lurking on the roads, a competent police officer told "F", adding that the campaigns and controls will focus on these illegalities that bring serious road collisions. The more than four thousand drunk drivers caught in a year show the magnitude of the problem, he added, noting that these are the ones who are detected.
