Vehicle registrations down by 20.3% January to August | Cyprus Mail

Total registrations of motor vehicles in August edged down an annual 1% to total 3217. Passenger saloon cars recorded a bigger annual drop of 2.8% to 2,560 the Cyprus statistical service said on Tuesday.

Overall, for the period January-August the total registrations of motor vehicles plummeted 20.3% to 24,969 from 31,336 in the same period the previous year.

Passenger saloon cars slumped to 19,423 from 25,450, recording a fall of 23.7%. Of the total passenger saloon cars, 6.822 or 35.1% were new and 12,601 or 64,9% were used cars.

Goods conveyance vehicles fell by 17.7% to 2,988 from 3,632 in January-August 2019. In particular, light goods vehicles decreased by 19.0% to 2.523, heavy goods vehicles by 8.0% to 357 and road tractors (units of trailers) by 16.3% to 108.

Mopeds (up to 50cc) were down by 32.6% to 128 from 190 in the corresponding period of the previous year while motorbikes of more than 50cc increased to 1932 in January-August 2020, compared to 1654 in the same period in 2019, recording an increase of 16.8%.

Source: Vehicle registrations down by 20.3% January to August | Cyprus Mail

Vehicle registrations down by 20.3% January to August | Cyprus Mail Read More »

Four-lane motorway between Evrychou and Astromeritis by 2023 | Cyprus Mail

A study for a four-lane motorway between Evrychou and Astromeritis has been handed over to the public works department in a bid to get the project started that is designed to ease traffic congestion in the area, reports said Thursday.

The road, which has been in the works for 50 years, will be a 12.9 km stretch of highway costing €70 million, and is expected to be completed by 2023, once it is licensed.

Another stretch of motorway from Akaki to Astromeritis is scheduled to begin as soon as the first 12.9 km is completed.

The Akaki-Astromeritis motorway is planned to stretch 19 km and finish by 2026.  It will cost approximately €130 million in total including a roundabout.

The government has been pushing for this plan as 41,000 cars are estimated to travel on the road every day. They believe it will increase safety on the roads in the rural Nicosia area and better connect the villages of that area to the capital.

The motorway is planned as an extension of the Nicosia-Kokkinotrimithia-Astromeritis road.  A roundabout is in the plans for the end of the motorway close to Evrychou.

In the environmental studies, part of the road is planned to cut through a protected Natura 2000 area in ‘Atsa- Ayios Theodoros’.

However, since the political decision for the road’s construction was made, the government is planning to promote it as a public interest project to better the quality of life, despite cutting through the Natura area.

A public works letter in 2019 said there was no need to examine alternative scenarios, as the decision for the motorway’s construction has been made.

Source: Four-lane motorway between Evrychou and Astromeritis by 2023 | Cyprus Mail

Four-lane motorway between Evrychou and Astromeritis by 2023 | Cyprus Mail Read More »

Anti motorcycle decree watered down but bikers threaten action | Cyprus Mail

The police said on Tuesday it will modify a decree currently in force banning certain types of motorcycles from the roads during the holiday season, relaxing the previous restrictions.

The decision came after a lengthy meeting between the police chief and representatives of the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation (CMF) and owners of motorcycle rental businesses.

The revised decree eases the restrictions in force since August 13 and valid until August 30 – but the CMF came out of the meeting unsatisfied, saying the regulations still discriminate among drivers and fail to address the problem of noise nuisance on the roads.

Speaking to the media later, CMF representative Athos Efstathiou said they still disagree with the revised decree as it continues to impose double standards.

“Sadly the police don’t realise the problem of deprivation of liberty and discrimination…” he said.

“Separating users of the road grid into good and bad drivers, according to the vehicle and its type, is a major mistake that can only cause problems.”

Efstathiou said bikers would be consulting their lawyers on the possibility of challenging the decree in the courts, on the grounds of discrimination.

He argued that because current laws contain loopholes, and the police are unable to properly enforce measures to combat noise nuisance, authorities are trying to paper over the problem with sweeping decrees.

A representative for the association of rental motorcycles said they were exempt on the grounds that the restrictions would have decimated their business, already hit hard by the slump in tourist rentals, owing to the coronavirus situation.

Under the amended decree, the restrictions on the movement on motorcycles and quadbikes over 125cc now apply only on August 22, 23, 29 and 30, for the same roads designated in the initial decree.

The time slot for the restrictions has also been reduced, and made uniform across the cities – from 1am to 4am on the designated days.

Now also exempt from the restrictions are rental motorcycles; previously food delivery bikes had been exempt, and they continue to be.

The initial decree had banned the movement in Nicosia for 125cc motorbikes on August 16, 23 and 30 between midnight and 5am from Griva Digeni Avenue from the junction with Archangelos Avenue and Ayios Prokopios street up to junction with Themistoklis Dervis street and on Prodromou Avenue, from its junction with the Red Cross up to its junction with Grivas Digenis Avenue.

In Limassol, the initial ban concerned the coastal road that includes the Spyrou Araouzou, October 28th, Promachonas Eleftherias, Georgiou A and Amathountos streets, on August 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 between 7pm and 4am.

For Paphos, the ban initially related to Poseidonos Avenue between 8pm and 4am on August 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30.

For the Famagusta district, the decree originally banned movement between 8pm and 4am from Protaras road – the road where the hotels are located – and from the Nissi and Archbishop Makarios Avenue in Ayia Napa.

Source: Anti motorcycle decree watered down but bikers threaten action | Cyprus Mail

Anti motorcycle decree watered down but bikers threaten action | Cyprus Mail Read More »

CONTACT NOS FOR THE POLICE IN THE AREA WHERE YOU MAY BE ON HOLIDAY OR VISITING

We are already in the summer holiday season, which many choose to spend away from the city where they live, temporarily staying either in a tourist accommodation, or in another family or holiday home in the village, on the coast or even in the mountainous areas. Others, again, prefer one-day or two-day trips to the mountain or the sea, on weekends, absent even for a while, from the urban areas where they live.

 During the holidays, however, there are also various unforeseen incidents, some serious and not so much, but we also need to ask for help for them.

 It is therefore useful to know some important contact numbers with the Police, in the area where we will be, so that in case we need to call for help, receive some advice or make a complaint, we can immediately contact either the local Police Station or the Police Directorate of the Province where we will be.

 Relevant information on the contact numbers of the local Police Stations by Province, are published on the website of the Police.  www.cypruspolicenews.com. In addition to the telephone numbers, information is published about the address of the Police Stations, as well as about the areas of Municipalities and Communities, which are policed by each Police Station.

The contact numbers with the Police Directorates of the Provinces are as follows:

Famagusta Province: 23-803030

Larnaca Province: 24-804040

Limassol Province: 25-805050

Paphos Province: 26-806060

Morfos Area: 22-802525

Nicosia Province: 22-802020

The following numbers operate on a Cyprus-wide basis:

Cyprus Citizen’s Contact Line – 1460

Police Emergency – 112 or 199

CONTACT NOS FOR THE POLICE IN THE AREA WHERE YOU MAY BE ON HOLIDAY OR VISITING Read More »

GERMANY WANTS TO INTRODUCE CAR TOLL ACROSS EU, DOCUMENT SHOWS

© Reuters/POOL FILE PHOTO: Weekly cabinet meeting in Berlin

By Markus Wacket

BERLIN (Reuters) – German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer aims to clear the way for an almost blanket motorway toll for cars across Germany and Europe during the country’s presidency of the European Union, a draft document seen by Reuters on Wednesday showed.

Within eight years, almost all vehicles on motorways, including lorries, vans and cars, would have to pay tolls, according to the draft for the EU toll directive.

“As regards member states that have already established a charging system, tolls or user charges shall be levied upon all vehicles except coaches and buses,” stated the document which Scheuer wants German ministries to approve on Wednesday.

That would make it Germany’s official proposal for its presidency of the bloc which started on July 1 and runs until the end of the year.

However, some government officials told Reuters that some German ministries wanted to put the project on ice even though a distance-based toll is widely seen as a measure to help protect the climate.

It is particularly sensitive for ministries headed by the Social Democrats (SPD), who share power with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and have long been critical of car tolls.

(Reporting by Markus Wacket; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Michelle Martin)

Source: TALA COMMUNITY NEWS: GERMANY WANTS TO INTRODUCE CAR TOLL ACROSS EU, DOCUMENT SHOWS

GERMANY WANTS TO INTRODUCE CAR TOLL ACROSS EU, DOCUMENT SHOWS Read More »

Customised car destroyed on court’s order – Cyprus Mail

A car that had been customised by its owner was destroyed on Wednesday on the orders of the Larnaca district court after it ruled that the changes made to the vehicle were illegal.

The car was seized last December after a routine traffic check in Larnaca when its 27-year-old owner was found to be driving while his licence was revoked and with no insurance.

During a check of the vehicle, police found out that it had undergone several mechanical conversions such as an engine change without the permission from the road transport department. The vehicle’s frame where the chassis number was located had been cut and welded anew, and as a result, it was not possible to prove the car’s identity. It was therefore deemed unfit to run, police said.

The Larnaca district court ordered the vehicle’s destruction on June 11 citing the illegal conversions made and the imprisonment of the owner for 30 days, among other things.

“The vehicle was transported today to an approved site of destruction of old vehicles where the court decree was executed,” police said.

The driver was sentenced to 30 days in prison and his licence was revoked for four months after he was found guilty of driving while his licence was revoked, with no insurance and for the changes he had made to the car.

Source: Customised car destroyed on court’s order – Cyprus Mail

Customised car destroyed on court’s order – Cyprus Mail Read More »

Drivers set to face steeper and more targeted fines  – Cyprus Mail

Drivers are set to face steeper and more targeted fines in October, as parliament is set to vote next week on seven bills to introduce the changes.

The simple take-away is that fines are set to increase across the board. In most cases, the fines have been doubled with provisions for even steeper penalties for repeat offences within certain period of time.

The bills are set to pass next week but the new measures will not come into effect until October.

During the intervening two months, authorities will carry out a large-scale information campaign to inform the public of the new measures.

As one MP told the Cyprus Mail: “It’s complex set of changes that will occur and people will have to familiarise themselves with the new measures.”

It appears that there was some haggling over how steep to the fines should be.

It is understood that the justice ministry had lobbied for heftier fines, such as a penalty of €300 for using the phone while driving. The transport committee, however, proposed a fine of €150 which could reach €300 for a repeat offence.

The reasoning behind this, a member of the transport committee told the Cyprus Mail, is that “the fines should be high enough to act as a deterrent but not overly strict so as to bankrupt someone.”

The transport committee and justice ministry also hope to cover some loopholes. Currently, as the MP told the Cyprus Mail, it is cheaper to pay the fine for driving without a licence than it is to buy the licence itself.

The exact details of the new measures are set to be made available shortly as the information campaign begins.

Source: Drivers set to face steeper and more targeted fines  – Cyprus Mail

Drivers set to face steeper and more targeted fines  – Cyprus Mail Read More »

Cyprus has among least safe roads in Europe – Cyprus Mail

Cyprus is near the bottom of European countries when it comes to the number of road fatalities per million inhabitants, according to figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).

While Sweden has the safest roads, with 25 road deaths per million people, the UK is second with 28 and Cyprus is ranked at number 20 with 62.

Road fatalities are at their highest in eastern Europe. Romania has the worst record, with 99 fatalities per million inhabitants. Bulgaria comes close with 96. Next on the list are Croatia, Poland and Latvia.

The EU average is 49 fatalities per million.

According to the ACEA, road traffic deaths have been falling in the EU for the past two decades. In 2001, there were 54,900 fatalities. By 2017 this had fallen to 25,300.

However, more needs to be done, EU Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska, responsible for internal market and industry, said.

“We can and must act to change this. With the new advanced safety features that will become mandatory, we can have the same kind of impact as when safety belts were first introduced,” she commented.

Source: Cyprus has among least safe roads in Europe – Cyprus Mail

Cyprus has among least safe roads in Europe – Cyprus Mail Read More »

Articulated lorries to be banned from the roads on Sundays – Cyprus Mail

In a bid to alleviate traffic during the summer, police on Friday banned articulated lorries from using motorways and other networks between certain times the next three Sundays of the month.

According to a statement, on July 12, 19, and 26, between 9am and 1pm and 4pm and 8pm, articulated lorries would be banned from using motorways as well as the Nicosia -Troodos, Limassol-Platres-Troodos, and Paphos-Polis roads.

Recently, because of the large number of cars on the network and two crashes, thousands of motorists were stuck on the highway for hours.

In addition, police would be stepping up its patrols during the weekend and carry out checks with special emphasis on offences considered the main causes of fatal accidents.

On Sundays, police will also issue frequent announcements regarding the state of the roads.

Source: Articulated lorries to be banned from the roads on Sundays – Cyprus Mail

Articulated lorries to be banned from the roads on Sundays – Cyprus Mail Read More »

Police urge motorcyclists to wear helmets – Cyprus Mail

Paphos police on Sunday appealed to motorbike users to wear helmets for their own safety.

Speaking after the death of a motorcyclist in Paphos early on Sunday morning, CID Paphos spokesman Michalis Ioannou said “we are making for one more time an appeal to motorcyclists to wear a helmet”.

Shortly before 5am on Sunday Evagoras Demetriou, 24, from Ayia Marina was driving home after a night out on the main road from Polis to his village when he lost control of the bike, which overturned leaving him on the pavement.

He was taken to Paphos general hospital where doctors confirmed his death.

Source: Police urge motorcyclists to wear helmets – Cyprus Mail

Police urge motorcyclists to wear helmets – Cyprus Mail Read More »