New rules aim to ease Cyprus traffic jams caused by drivers waiting in the road after minor accidents. Parliament has passed legislation allowing vehicles to be moved safely to the roadside without legal risk, provided both parties agree and take photographs before doing so.
MP Dimitris Dimitriou, speaking to Mesimeri & Kati, explained that Cyprus has been one of the few countries where drivers routinely block traffic after low-impact collisions, waiting for police or insurance representatives. The result has often been unnecessary delays and gridlock.
Legal protection for moving vehicles after a crash
Under the new law, drivers involved in minor crashes are now encouraged to move their vehicles out of the road, with no penalty from insurers, as long as:
- Both parties agree,
- Photographs are taken of the damage,
- And roadside assistance is called from a safe location.
Insurance companies are now legally required to accept photo evidence and driver statements, and cannot penalise drivers for moving their cars to reduce traffic disruption. Dimitriou stressed that there will be no negative consequences for compliant drivers.
Cracking down on fraud
Dimitriou also pointed to a small percentage of the population- around 2-3%- who try to exploit the system by staging fake accidents. “Unfortunately, this harms the other 97% of honest drivers,” he said, but emphasised that the new law is designed to benefit the majority while making fraudulent claims easier to detect.
The legal reform aims to improve traffic flow, reduce daily gridlock and traffic jams, and modernise accident protocols in line with European standards.
Also read: Major traffic disruption in Nicosia after lorry-car collision
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