August sees deadliest week on Cyprus roads in 2024

Cyprus has seen a troubling increase in road fatalities so far this year compared to the same period last year. Twenty-eight people have died in 25 fatal road accidents, marking a 30% increase from the previous year's 16 road crashes that resulted in 17 deaths.

Speaking to "Kathimerini," Traffic Department official Tasos Ashikkis confirmed the increase in road accidents for 2024 compared to 2023 but noted that current levels are similar to those in 2022. He emphasized the need for long-term statistical analysis rather than year-over-year comparisons. Asikkis also stated that a Road Safety Council meeting is expected to convene in September to review this year's road accidents and consider recommendations. Attendees will include the Ministers of Transport and Justice, as well as police officials.

Since the introduction of traffic cameras on January 1, 2022, the number of road fatalities has shown a slight decrease. In 2022, there were 35 fatal accidents with 37 deaths. In 2023, this number dropped to 32 accidents and 34 deaths. Before the camera system's implementation, in 2021, there were 44 fatal crashes resulting in 45 deaths.

One of the deadliest weeks this year was from August 19 to August 25, when four people lost their lives in road accidents. The week began with the death of Androula Neophytou in a crash in Limassol on August 19, followed by the deaths of Neophytos Konstanti and Paul Julius in separate incidents on August 20. On August 23, former APOEL coach Giorgos Platis died in a crash.

In addition to these fatal accidents, several serious crashes occurred during the same week. On August 19, two minors, aged 12 and 14, were injured in a bicycle accident in Paphos, and seven people were injured in a collision in Limassol, two of whom remain in critical condition. On August 24, a 32-year-old mother and her three-year-old daughter were injured in an accident, with the child being ejected from the vehicle.

In response to the rising number of accidents, police have intensified enforcement efforts. Between August 23 and 26, officers conducted 512 vehicle inspections and 561 personal checks in Limassol, issuing 112 breathalyzer tests that found 19 drivers over the legal alcohol limit. Police also issued 141 citations for various traffic violations, opened 14 traffic cases, and impounded five cars and two motorcycles.

Similarly, in Paphos, traffic police issued 179 citations over the same period, including five for drunk driving and four for drug-related driving offenses. Sixty-one citations were issued for speeding, with the remainder for other traffic violations.

Data from the Cyprus Police reveal that Saturday is the most dangerous day for fatal crashes, accounting for 21.80% of accidents over the past four years (2019-2023), followed by Sunday at 15.64%. Saturday recorded 44 accidents, the highest number over this period, while Tuesday had the fewest at 18, accounting for 8.53%.

The most dangerous time for fatal accidents has been between 4 p.m. and 7:59 p.m., with 48 crashes (22.75%) occurring during this period over the past four years. The fewest fatal crashes occurred between 4 a.m. and 7:59 a.m., with just 24 incidents recorded.

Since Cyprus gained independence in 1960, over 6,000 people have died in road accidents. The deadliest year was 1973, with 162 fatalities, and between 1992 and 1996, over 600 people lost their lives on the roads. Recent years have seen a steady decline in fatal crashes, particularly since 2018.

[Summary of Hectoras Georgiou's original story in Greek published in Kathimerini's Cyprus edition]