Only Sober Behind the Wheel: Cyprus Prepares New Measures for Young and Beginner Drivers

In Cyprus, they have seriously taken up tightening traffic rules, placing emphasis on the prevention of fatal accidents. In the Parliament’s transport committee, a bill is being discussed that provides for a zero alcohol level for young drivers, driving school students, and persons operating a vehicle without a driver's license. The document is planned to be submitted to the House of Representatives within the next two weeks, making it one of the key legislative priorities at the beginning of the year.

Zero-alcohol law and its purpose

The chairman of the transport committee and MP from the Dipa party Alekos Tryfonidis emphasized that the proposed initiative directly concerns young people and tragic road accidents with fatal outcomes. According to him, accident statistics clearly show that the combination of inexperience and alcohol most often leads to irreversible consequences on the roads. The new approach is intended not so much to punish as to form a culture of zero tolerance toward drunk driving among novice drivers.

Traffic cameras and the issue of public trust

MP from the Disy party Nikos Georgiou drew attention to the upgrade of the traffic camera system, which is scheduled for March 1 and is estimated at more than 1 million euros. He noted that cameras should primarily perform a preventive function, increasing driver awareness rather than turning into a tool for mass issuance of fines. Of particular concern, according to him, are hidden cameras, which may undermine trust between citizens and the state and reduce the effectiveness of efforts to combat accidents.

Alcohol, drugs, and alarming statistics

MP from the Diko party Chrysanthos Savvidis pointed to the problem of driving under the influence. He recalled that over the past 5 years in Cyprus, about 15 thousand drivers were detained for exceeding the permitted alcohol level. At the same time, it remains unknown how many people, mostly young, continue to drive unnoticed. The situation becomes even more dangerous when alcohol is combined with narcotic substances, which, in the opinion of the parliamentarian, represents a serious threat to public safety.

New police powers and license revocation

Transport Minister Alexis Vafiadis announced the preparation of legislative changes aimed at improving road safety. Among them is the mandatory use of reflective elements on helmets and protective equipment. He also reported that last year 17 motorcyclists and nine pedestrians died on the country’s roads, which became the basis for developing a comprehensive action plan.

One of the key innovations will be the transfer of powers to the police to immediately confiscate driving licenses from persons operating vehicles under the influence of drugs. Previously, this procedure could take more than a week, allowing dangerous drivers to continue driving. Now license revocation will occur automatically, immediately after the violation is detected.

Driver training and analysis of camera performance

The transport committee also intends to analyze the effectiveness of the current traffic camera system since its implementation. Based on the collected data, recommendations for the transport minister will be prepared by March. According to Tryfonidis, after two to three years of the system’s operation, the appropriate time has come to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.

At the same time, modernization of driver training programs is planned in cooperation with the Road Department and the police. Special attention will be paid to young drivers and those who have already committed violations. For them, training may become an opportunity to reduce penalty points and improve safe driving skills. A separate emphasis will be placed on the problem of mobile phone use while driving, which, according to police data, has become the cause of a significant number of fatal accidents.

E-scooters and e-bikes: what next

Against the background of active public discussions, the transport minister announced a special study that will form the basis of future regulation of the use of electric bicycles and electric motorcycles. The document should clarify permissible speed and zones of operation. At the same time, the idea of introducing license plates for bicycles and e-bikes has so far been excluded as technically and practically unfeasible.

Overall, these initiatives demonstrate the desire of the Cypriot authorities to move from fragmented measures to a systematic approach to road safety issues, focusing on prevention, training, and timely intervention.

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