Mobile Speed Camera Vans in Cyprus to Be Equipped with Flashing Beacons
The Parliament of Cyprus adopted amendments to the legislation on traffic violations that directly affect the operation of mobile speed cameras. Now, vehicles used to record speeding must be more visible on the roads. During speed checks, flashing beacons on their roofs must be turned on.
The amendment was initiated by MP Stavros Papadouris, representing the movement “Ecologists – Civic Cooperation.” The bill received unanimous support from parliamentarians. The new rules are expected to make the speed control system more transparent and help improve road safety.
According to the adopted law, the requirement will come into force three months after official publication in the government gazette. This period is allocated so that services and contractors can install the necessary equipment on the vehicles used for mobile speed control.
Why flashing beacons are being introduced
The main purpose of the innovation is to make vehicles with speed cameras easily noticeable to drivers. Lawmakers believe that warning about speed control should work as a preventive measure. When a driver sees a vehicle with flashing beacons turned on, they reduce speed in advance and become more attentive on the road.
According to the authors of the initiative, this practice will reduce the number of violations and at the same time increase the level of road safety. In recent years, the issue of the effectiveness of speed cameras has been actively discussed in Cyprus, since some drivers consider the system too focused on fines rather than prevention.
Disputes over the cost of installing equipment
The idea of mandatory beacons initially received support from the parliamentary transport committee. However, later the Ministry of Justice and the Cyprus Police expressed doubts about the implementation of this measure.
Representatives of law enforcement agencies explained that the installation of flashing beacons was not provided for in the contract with the company that maintains the mobile camera system. For this reason, upgrading the vehicles may require additional expenses and time.
The police also proposed an alternative option — to use special reflective signs that would indicate the presence of a mobile camera. Nevertheless, Parliament decided to approve precisely the option with beacons.
The rapporteur on the bill noted that about twenty vans with mobile cameras are currently operating on the roads of Cyprus. According to his estimate, installing flashing signals on each vehicle will cost about 1 thousand euros. On the scale of the national road control system, such expenses are considered relatively small.
New requirements for camera placement on roads
During the discussion of the bill, deputies also proposed additional changes. One of the amendments was introduced by MP Andreas Themistokleous. It concerns the location of mobile cameras on road sections where the speed limit changes.
According to the new rules, if a sign changing the permitted speed is installed on the road, a vehicle with a mobile camera cannot be located too close to that place. On motorways, the minimum distance from the sign must be at least 300 m. On other roads, the distance must be at least 100 m.
This measure is aimed at avoiding situations where cameras are installed immediately after a speed limit change and record violations almost instantly. Parliament supported this amendment, as well as the entire bill, unanimously.
Speed control and road safety in Cyprus
The speed camera system has been actively used in Cyprus in recent years. It includes fixed cameras installed at key intersections and motorways, as well as mobile units that can be moved around different areas of the island.
According to the traffic police, the introduction of cameras helped reduce the number of serious accidents on a number of dangerous road sections. However, the operation of mobile cameras regularly causes public debate. Drivers often demand greater transparency and warning about speed control.
The new rules with mandatory flashing beacons should partly resolve this issue. It is expected that thanks to these changes, the control system will become clearer for road users, and the main goal of the cameras — improving safety — will be achieved more effectively.
A large selection of cars on the DOMCar portal.