In a move aimed at enhancing road safety and reducing fatalities, authorities have announced upcoming changes to urban speed limits, including the enforcement of 30km/h zones in high-risk areas such as school zones and city centres.
Assistant Traffic Director at Police Headquarters, Haris Evripidou, confirmed in a recent interview that efforts are being intensified to monitor and manage speeding, especially in areas with vulnerable road users. “We’re moving toward a model of safer, more people-friendly urban streets. In many parts of the city, such as near schools or pedestrian-heavy areas, a 30km/h limit will be implemented and strictly enforced,” Evripidou stated.
Griva Digeni Avenue under the spotlight
Particular attention has been given to Griva Digeni Avenue, where two speed cameras have been out of operation for over two years. According to Evripidou, the cameras were governed by a separate contract from the main national camera system, which led to complications when the contract expired. “We’re now in the process of relocating the cameras, but due to contractual limitations, integration into the new automated system wasn’t feasible,” he explained.
Despite the absence of fixed cameras, police presence on the avenue will be ramped up, and mobile speed cameras will be deployed to monitor driver behaviour. Once infrastructure updates are complete, the road will officially carry a speed limit of 50km/h, with new signs being installed to inform drivers.
Fatal accidents spark roundabout surveillance
The police have also faced criticism from some citizens for issuing fines near roundabouts. However, Evripidou defended the strategy, citing multiple fatal accidents that have occurred in such locations. “Random checks near roundabouts are both legal and necessary. We’ve had tragic incidents—lives lost between circular junctions. It’s our duty to act preemptively,” he said.
No tolerance for extreme speeding
Highlighting the severity of speeding violations, Evripidou revealed a recent case in which a driver was caught travelling at 145km/h in a 65km/h zone. “These kinds of reckless behaviours are precisely why constant surveillance and stricter enforcement are vital. People are dying. We’re not going to stop doing our job.”
Looking ahead
The initiative is part of a broader traffic safety campaign that includes identifying dangerous road segments and deploying targeted enforcement. With the gradual rollout of lower speed limits and increased policing, authorities hope to see a drop in both serious accidents and traffic-related deaths in urban environments.
Official announcements and updated traffic signs will accompany each change to ensure that drivers are well-informed. As cities grow and streets become more congested, safety remains a top priority—especially for the most vulnerable users: pedestrians and cyclists.
Also read: Countdown timers on traffic cameras are “technically impossible”
