The number of people killed on Cyprus roads since the beginning of 2026 has reached 27, with more than half of the victims travelling on two-wheelers.
The Police are stepping up targeted operations and awareness campaigns aimed at preventing fatal road crashes, following the latest fatal collision involving a 30-year-old motorcyclist.
Motorcyclists account for more than half
According to available data, 14 of the 27 people killed this year were travelling on motorcycles or other two-wheelers, accounting for more than half of the total.
The high proportion of motorcyclists among road deaths is one of the most concerning aspects of this year’s road safety figures.
The year began with particularly worrying figures, with 11 fatal crashes recorded by the end of March. The number of victims reached 17 during the first five months of the year and 19 by mid-June.
By August, the death toll had exceeded 26 before the latest fatal crash brought the total to 27.
Police call for greater road awareness
Police spokesperson Vyronas Vyronos told the Cyprus News Agency that the Force maintains a strong presence on the road network and conducts targeted enforcement operations in areas identified as high risk.
The campaigns are based on Police assessments of the causes of fatal crashes, as well as the programme of the European traffic police network Roadpol.
A campaign against mobile phone use while driving is taking place this week. Police have identified distracted driving, particularly through mobile phone use, as a major risk factor in fatal crashes.
Vyronos called on drivers to comply with the Highway Code, follow traffic laws and respect other road users.
He also stressed the need for drivers to remember that someone is waiting for them at home.
No magic solution to fatal crashes
Asked how mobile phone use and other distractions could be reduced, Vyronos said greater efforts were needed from the Police and other organisations, alongside systematic road safety education, particularly for young people from an early age.
The aim is to develop a stronger road safety awareness and culture.
“There are no magic solutions,” he said, noting that the Police cannot be present on every road or predict everything that could happen across Cyprus.
He stressed that every driver, motorcyclist, moped rider and electric scooter user must recognise that their life can be at risk at any moment, both because of their own actions and those of other road users.
Road deaths match 2025 figure
The current figures are also concerning when compared with 2025, which recorded the highest number of road fatalities in the past five years, with 45 people losing their lives on Cyprus roads.
By 23 August 2025, the number of road deaths stood at 27, the same as the figure recorded during the corresponding period this year.
Police data indicate that careless driving, excessive speed and distraction, particularly through mobile phone use, remain among the main factors associated with fatal crashes.
The high proportion of young drivers among victims is another concern, with Cyprus continuing to record high levels of deaths among drivers under 24 compared with other European countries.
Focus remains on prevention
Vyronos stressed that the goal cannot realistically be zero crashes, but rather a substantial reduction in road collisions, particularly fatal ones.
The Police will continue their campaigns and targeted enforcement operations, with prevention remaining the priority.
The message from the Police is that every road user has a responsibility for safety. The 27 road deaths recorded so far in 2026 have once again placed road safety firmly in the spotlight.
Also read: Autopsy sheds light on 29-year-old death – 28-year-old driver’s alcohol test negative
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