Newsroom
Cyprus is preparing a series of new road safety measures aimed at motorcyclists after a sharp rise in deadly crashes left authorities sounding the alarm over helmet use, poor maintenance, and risky driving behavior.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis said Tuesday that the Road Safety Council had agreed to push forward with targeted actions focused on motorcycle safety, following growing concern over the number of riders killed on Cypriot roads this year.
The issue hits close to home for many in Cyprus, where motorcycles and scooters are a daily part of life, from food delivery drivers weaving through traffic to young riders using bikes as a cheaper alternative to cars.
But officials say too many riders are still taking dangerous shortcuts.
So far this year, 15 people have died in road collisions in Cyprus. Seven of them were motorcyclists.
According to Vafeadis, four of those riders were confirmed not to have been wearing helmets. In two other cases, helmets were reportedly found next to the victims at crash scenes, raising suspicions they may also not have been properly secured.
“This is a huge road behavior issue,” the minister said after the meeting, which included police officials, road safety experts and representatives of the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation.
Among the measures now being considered are subsidies for safety equipment such as helmets and protective gear, possible incentives to replace older motorcycles lacking modern safety systems, and stricter checks on how motorcycles are maintained and inspected.
Authorities are also planning a campaign to scrutinize technical inspections carried out through private vehicle inspection centers, known as IKTEOs, amid concerns that some motorcycles may be passing checks without proper oversight.
Vafeadis said similar inspections in the past uncovered cases where legal safety procedures were not properly followed.
“One of the problems is that a motorcycle may not be well maintained, and unfortunately this can contribute to a very serious accident,” he said.
Officials also acknowledged Cyprus’ large foreign rider community, saying future safety campaigns will also be conducted in English to reach non-Greek speakers working and living on the island.
Adonis Christofides, who also serves as Cyprus’ road safety ambassador this year, said motorcycle safety cannot be tackled through “quick fixes” alone.
“It is a very serious issue,” he said, calling for a long-term strategy instead of isolated measures.
The government is also expected to move ahead soon with stricter rules for learner motorcyclists. Vafeadis said riders using learner permits will no longer be allowed to work professionally using motorcycles once the legislation comes into force.
The proposed measures are expected to be reviewed again at the next Road Safety Council meeting in about a month.
