Road safety adviser Andreas Papas discussed new measures to combat reckless driving in Cyprus on the programme “Protoselido.” He highlighted the use of cameras on highways and the introduction of on-the-spot licence suspension for offenders.
Papas explained that existing fixed cameras at traffic lights record vehicles that run red lights. If a driver also uses a mobile phone or fails to wear a seatbelt, the cameras capture all three offences simultaneously.
Monitoring seatbelts and mobile use without speeding
The Ministry of Transport has asked the camera operator to explore technological options to record seatbelt and mobile phone violations independently of speeding. Papas described this as an additional deterrent to unlawful driving.
Journey time monitoring on highways
Papas also addressed the potential use of systems that track the entry and exit times of vehicles on highways. He suggested that such measures could improve compliance, using the example of a driver encountering slow traffic or an accident and adjusting speed accordingly. He noted that cameras must cover every highway entry point to make the system effective.
On-the-spot licence suspension for alcohol and drugs
Regarding alcohol-related violations, Papas stated that the Traffic Office previously held the authority to suspend licences following police complaints. The Ministry of Transport is transferring this power to the Police Headquarters, which will delegate it to Traffic Department chiefs.
When authorities stop a driver under the influence, they will check whether the driver has previous offences within the last 12 months. Papas confirmed the same process applies for driving under the influence of drugs.
Also read: Transport Minister Vafeadis launches new road safety measures
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