Police report latest fatal crash figures
Road deaths in Cyprus continue to raise concern, with police confirming 15 fatalities on the island since the beginning of the year, according to Traffic Headquarters officer Tasos Asikis.
He noted that alternative counts may show 17 deaths, but explained that discrepancies stem from cases not classified as road fatalities, including a medical death and a collision occurring in the British Bases area.
Authorities say road deaths in Cyprus are largely linked to driver behaviour, with one-third of this year’s fatalities attributed to careless driving and distraction. Other contributing factors include failure to keep to the left side of the road, unsafe lane changes and inadequate following distance.
Police stress that these behaviours continue to reflect a lack of attention on the roads, despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
Data presented by police also show an increase in traffic violations.
In 2025, around 1,200 drug driving checks were carried out, with 921 positive results and 50 refusals to provide samples. A total of 981 related offences were recorded within a year.
Authorities have also tightened penalties, with repeat offences now leading to immediate licence suspension rather than administrative settlement.
Speed cameras linked to safety improvements
The police also defended the effectiveness of the camera enforcement system in reducing road deaths in Cyprus. Since its rollout between 2022 and 2024, the system includes 90 fixed and 20 mobile cameras nationwide.
According to police data, no fatal crashes have been recorded at locations where fixed cameras operate, which were previously considered high-risk areas.
Officials argue this indicates a clear safety improvement rather than simple redistribution of accidents.
Criticism that accidents are merely shifting to other locations was addressed by police, who said the issue must be viewed in broader context. They highlighted that despite an increase in vehicle numbers, fatalities have shown fluctuation rather than sustained growth, with 45 deaths recorded in 2025 compared to 48 in 2020.
Authorities argue that without enforcement systems, figures could be significantly higher.
Call for continued road safety focus
Police stress that road deaths in Cyprus must be assessed alongside international data, which consistently shows that enforcement technology and behavioural monitoring contribute to reducing dangerous driving practices.
Officials emphasise that sustained improvement depends on driver responsibility as well as continued enforcement and prevention measures.
Also read: Mobile speed cameras to use flashing lights
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