Cypriot authorities are considering a significant tightening of road safety legislation. The police are focusing on illegal street racing, motorcycles performing wheelies, and social media videos that may encourage dangerous behaviour among young people. The future reforms may be based on the Polish model, which is regarded as one of the strictest in Europe.
The discussion was prompted by recent road accident statistics. Since the beginning of 2026, 19 people have lost their lives on Cyprus' roads, including eight motorcyclists—seven riders and one passenger. According to the police, deliberately dangerous riding remains one of the causes of serious accidents, making a review of the current legal framework necessary.
Why authorities are concerned about social media videos
Law enforcement agencies are paying particular attention to videos showing dangerous stunts, wheelies, illegal street races, and street fights. Such content spreads rapidly online and attracts thousands of views. According to the police, these posts create a false sense of impunity among young people and turn reckless behaviour into a form of entertainment.
For this reason, officials are discussing legal mechanisms to limit the distribution of content that promotes traffic law violations. However, investigating such cases remains challenging. Even when a video is publicly available, police must identify the account owner, determine who uploaded the content, and prove their direct connection to the offence. A video alone is not sufficient evidence for prosecution.
What changes may be introduced
The police are considering introducing specific legal provisions targeting wheelies, illegal street racing, and other dangerous riding manoeuvres. They are also discussing measures addressing online content that could encourage or glorify such behaviour. At this stage, however, the proposals remain in the preparatory phase. No draft legislation has yet been submitted, and the amount of potential fines or other penalties has not been officially determined.
Drivers can already be prosecuted for dangerous driving if the offence is recorded by police officers or traffic enforcement cameras. However, when a social media video is the only available evidence, building a legally sufficient case is considerably more difficult.
One of the key references for Cyprus is Poland, where major amendments to road traffic legislation came into force in 2026. Since 30 March, drivers who intentionally drift or spin their wheels outside designated areas can lose their driving licence for three months and face fines of up to 30,000 Polish zloty (approximately €7,100). Polish law has also introduced criminal liability for participating in and organizing illegal street races for the first time.
Cyprus continues to strengthen road safety
The proposal to impose tougher penalties forms part of a broader road safety strategy in Cyprus. In recent years, the authorities have significantly expanded the traffic camera network, increased fines for using mobile phones while driving, and regularly conduct enforcement operations targeting traffic offenders.
In addition, the Ministry of Transport has previously announced plans to introduce AI-powered cameras capable of automatically detecting drivers using mobile phones while driving. The authorities expect that combining modern technology, stricter enforcement, and tougher legislation will help reduce the number of accidents and lower the road death toll across the island.
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