The Cyprus Road Safety Council has approved a major upgrade of the island’s traffic camera enforcement system. The key change will be the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies that will automatically detect drivers using mobile phones, even when no other traffic violations are recorded.
The decision comes amid a rapid increase in the number of fines and persistently high accident rates. Since the traffic camera system was launched in autumn 2021, more than 850,000 fines have already been issued in Cyprus. According to official forecasts, by the end of 2026 this figure could approach one million.
How Traffic Cameras Currently Operate in Cyprus
The existing enforcement system automatically detects three main types of violations: speeding, running a red light, and crossing the stop line. Once one of these violations is recorded, the footage is also reviewed for seat belt and helmet violations.
According to road authorities, fixed cameras alone have generated more than half a million fines since 2021. One of the most problematic locations remains the intersection of Griva Digeni and Demostheni Severi avenues in Nicosia, where tens of thousands of violations have been recorded in recent years.
At the same time, a significant share of fines remains unpaid. Authorities acknowledge that many notifications fail to reach drivers due to delivery errors, while some motorists deliberately delay payment and challenge the penalties in court.
What Will Change After Artificial Intelligence Is Introduced
The new system will use computer vision and image analysis algorithms to detect signs of mobile phone use while driving. Artificial intelligence will be able to recognize a driver holding a smartphone or keeping a hand near the face without the need to detect any other traffic violation.
Once a suspicious situation is identified automatically, the system will save a video clip for manual review by an operator. A fine will be issued only after the violation is confirmed. Cyprus authorities emphasize that this is not fully automated enforcement, but a combination of AI and human oversight designed to minimize errors.
Before the system can be launched, software upgrades will be required along with the adoption of relevant legislative amendments by the House of Representatives. A pilot rollout is expected in the second half of 2026, and police will conduct an information campaign for drivers beforehand.
Why Authorities Are Tightening Enforcement
One of the main reasons for upgrading the system is road fatality statistics. According to the Ministry of Transport, dozens of serious traffic accidents in 2025 were linked to driver distraction, including the use of mobile devices behind the wheel.
Authorities are also concerned about the low use of seat belts and helmets. The situation remains particularly serious among motorcyclists: in early 2026, nearly half of all road fatalities involved this category of transport.
Cyprus has for several years ranked among the EU countries with a high rate of motorcycle-related deaths. Against this backdrop, officials are discussing additional safety measures, including subsidies for protective gear and possible scrappage programs for older motorcycles lacking modern safety systems.
What Cyprus Is Preparing Next
The camera upgrade is only part of a broader strategy to digitalize road enforcement. In the future, authorities are considering the possibility of automatically detecting seat belt violations without requiring any other offense to be recorded.
Experts note that Cyprus is gradually following the path of major European countries, where intelligent monitoring systems are already used to analyze driver behavior, monitor traffic, and reduce accident rates.
With the growing number of vehicles, increasing congestion on urban roads, and rising tourist traffic, authorities hope that new technologies will help reduce the number of fatal accidents and improve discipline on the island’s roads.
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