The Transport Committee of the Cyprus House of Representatives is seeking to introduce countdown timers at traffic lights equipped with traffic enforcement cameras. According to MPs, the measure would improve road safety, reduce driver stress, and decrease the number of disputed traffic fines.
Committee Chairman Sotiris Ioannou stated that the Department of Public Works' argument—that countdown timers cannot be installed because of the technical characteristics of modern traffic lights—is not convincing. Parliament intends to continue discussing the issue after the summer recess and has already requested official correspondence between the department, equipment manufacturers, and contractors.
The issue remains one of the most widely debated among motorists, as Cyprus continues expanding its network of traffic enforcement cameras while fines for traffic offences generate increasing public discussion.
Why MPs insist on installing countdown timers
According to Ioannou, many drivers experience additional stress at camera-controlled intersections because they do not know how many seconds remain before the traffic lights change. This often results in sudden braking or attempts to cross the intersection at the last moment, increasing the risk of accidents.
MPs argue that modern technology makes it possible to introduce countdown timers even on intelligent traffic lights, and that the issue is not about technical limitations but political will. For this reason, Parliament plans to revisit the proposal in September.
Road safety cameras or a revenue-generating tool?
During the committee meeting, representatives from several political parties expressed strong criticism of the current automated traffic enforcement system. AKEL MP Valentinos Fakontis noted that the cameras were originally introduced to improve road safety, but many residents now view them primarily as a means of collecting fines. According to him, despite the expansion of the camera network, the problem of fatal road accidents on the island has not been fully resolved.
DIKO representative Chrysanthos Savvides stated that the system was implemented before the entire necessary legal framework had been finalized. ALMA MP Irene Charalambidou stressed that countdown timers should be regarded first and foremost as a road safety feature rather than an optional addition. She also criticized the operation of some "smart" traffic lights in Nicosia, arguing that they actually increase traffic congestion.
MP Dimitris Souglis cited one of the busiest intersections in the Agia Fyla area of Limassol, where motorists regularly encounter difficult traffic conditions.
Why the authorities oppose the proposal
The Department of Public Works takes a different view. Chief Transport Engineer Alexis Avgousti explained that modern traffic lights operate using adaptive technology. The duration of green and red signals changes dynamically in real time according to traffic conditions.
Priority may be given to buses, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, or the busiest traffic flows. As a result, equipment manufacturers cannot guarantee that a countdown timer would always display the exact remaining time before the signal changes.
In addition, a €7 million project is currently underway to create a new centralized remote traffic light management system for the Cyprus Police. The system will cover 125 intersections across Nicosia and Limassol. Once the remaining legal procedures have been completed, the authorities expect to sign the contract by September 2026.
It is worth noting that Parliament already passed legislation in March 2025 requiring countdown timers to be installed at traffic lights. However, the Supreme Constitutional Court later declared the law unconstitutional. The court ruled that the legislation created additional government expenditure that had not been included in the approved state budget. As a result, the law was annulled before implementation began.
What could change for drivers
The parliamentary committee intends to reconsider the proposal in September. If MPs can identify a legally compliant funding mechanism, the installation of countdown timers could once again become part of the legislative agenda.
Road safety experts note that countdown timers can indeed make signalized intersections more predictable for drivers. However, their effectiveness largely depends on the type of traffic signal control: they are considerably more accurate at intersections with fixed signal cycles than on adaptive intelligent traffic management systems.
The debate over countdown timers reflects the broader issue of modernizing Cyprus' road infrastructure. While the authorities continue investing in intelligent transport systems, there is also growing public demand for greater transparency in the operation of traffic enforcement cameras and for measures that ensure driver safety remains the primary priority.
Browse a wide selection of vehicles on the DOMCar portal.
Photos: DOM, Pixabay
