€5,000 fine for flashing your lights? This is Cyprus!

The news quickly spread, landing somewhere between the wildly unbelievable and downright absurd. Yet, in Cyprus, a place where the unusual is just another day in paradise, it gained traction. The rumor mill churned out a tale of a €5,000 fine for the seemingly innocent act of flicking your car's turn signal to tip off a fellow driver about a hidden traffic camera on the opposite side of the road. Yes, you read that right – a €5,000 penalty for the simple act of signaling a friendly hello. It sparked protests, curses, and virtual demonstrations. The call to action was heard, and many joined the digital uproar.

After the commotion reached its peak, the Minister of Transport stepped in to clarify that flashing your lights as a cautionary gesture to fellow drivers was not a criminal offense. Thankfully, sanity prevailed. But beyond the humorous episode, credit is due to Mr. Vafeades for two notable reasons. Firstly, for acknowledging that the fines generated by those ubiquitous cameras are excessive and long overdue for a review. It's a step in the right direction, even if it's overdue, and we hope for a swift reevaluation of those penalties, perhaps even with refunds.

Secondly, kudos are in order for the decision to bid farewell to the over two-and-a-half thousand traffic humps scattered across Cyprus. Some of these traffic humps could double as miniature mountains, as they sprouted up without rhyme or reason, completely disregarding any semblance of uniformity standards. They've made our island a vehicular obstacle course, a boon to local auto repair shops, and a source of neck and spine woes for drivers. These pesky cones have even spewed extra fumes into our neighborhoods due to the constant braking, as investigative reports have revealed. So, it's high time they bid us adieu. Good riddance – we won't miss them one bit.

In closing, let's savor the quote of the year from our very own Nikaros' godson, Mauricio – the man of the hour, or rather, the darkness in the mountains: "If my tatas, Nikos Anastasiades, hadn't shaped Cyprus the way he did, I wouldn't have returned." No need for excessive exclamation marks – we've got you covered!

[This article has been translated from Greek, and the translation may not capture its original nuance and style accurately.]