September 2020

Hefty new fines from Thursday for driving violations | Cyprus Mail

From Thursday, fines for motorcyclists not wearing a crash helmet will more than double to €200, while those not wearing a seat belt will have to fork out €150.

The increased fines are part of a raft of tough new measures for traffic violations which cover speeding, drink-driving, reckless driving, failing to wear a helmet or a seat belt, and cell phone use while driving.

The changes are part of an ongoing effort aimed at limiting Cyprus’ high number of road deaths and serious injuries. At 67 deaths per 1 million inhabitants, the island has more road deaths per one million inhabitants than the EU average of 51.

“We hope that the increased penalties for traffic violations will help improve the safety on our roads and, at the same time, we expect full cooperation from drivers,” a police statement released on Tuesday said.

“Only this way can we drastically reduce road accidents and the consequent loss of lives on our roads.”

For some violations, the new penalties are extremely severe. For example, drivers failing to wear a seat belt will have to pay a €150 fine, which will be raised to €300 if there is a second offence within three years.

The fine for not wearing a helmet will rise from the current €85 to €200 and then €300 for a second violation.

Using a mobile phone while at the wheel will now cost drivers €150, instead of the current €85, with the fine potentially rising to €300 in case of a second violation within three years.

The fine for parking in a spot reserved for the disabled will rise from €85 to €300, as will the one for drivers who run a red light.

All the revised sentences have been posted on the website www.roadsafetycyprus.gov.cy.

Source: Hefty new fines from Thursday for driving violations | Cyprus Mail

Hefty new fines from Thursday for driving violations | Cyprus Mail Read More »

THE TRAFFIC POLICE TO HAVE NEW ‘WEAPONS’ TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS

Filenews 26 September 2020 – byMichalis Hatzivasilis

In addition to the increased penalties coming on 1 October, Traffic will have two more weapons at its disposal to track down illegal drivers on the roads in an effort to reduce accidents.

In the next few days it will receive ten new patrol cars with radar installed to detect speed offences, while in the control of drivers on motorways will be thrown all five conventional vehicles at the disposal of the Traffic Police. The advantage of the 10 patrol cars that will be given to the members of the Traffic Police is that they will be able to detect speed offences on the go. So far, radar checks have been carried out by a parked vehicle or by a police officer holding it in his hand. Now the new radars will allow traffic officers to carry out speed checks while they themselves are moving on motorways. This will give Traffic an advantage to surprise drivers who do not expect control from a police car that is either in front of them, behind them, or even at their side.

Until now, drivers knew that at certain points on motorways they were “setting up” radars so when they approached they lowered speed and as soon as they passed the point or saw that there was no police car they continued to breach the speed limit. It is noted that all 10 patrol cars with radar installed will be given for patrol on major roads and not for cities.

As far as conventional vehicles are concerned, the Traffic Department currently has five which it uses on major roads. The advantage of these vehicles is that they have no badges, no beacons but sirens and so are not perceived by drivers to comply proactively. The officers who staff them will wear uniform so that the drivers at the check know that they are Police.

Meanwhile, Traffic is starting from next Monday a campaign to control drivers in cities and in general in residential areas, after it has been found that 84% of accidents occur in urban areas and 64% in general in residential areas. The controls will mainly cover speed, safety belts and a mobile phone while driving.

THE TRAFFIC POLICE TO HAVE NEW ‘WEAPONS’ TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS Read More »

TALA COMMUNITY NEWS: CHANGES AFOOT RE LICENSING, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE

Filenews 12 September 2020 – by Vasos Vassiliou

Thousands of applicants to obtain a normal vehicle saloon driving licence will have to go through ten compulsory driving lessons, while applicants to obtain a normal motorcycle driving licence will have to pass up to 17 courses paying hundreds of euros each. Approximately 25,000 student licences are issued each year for all types of vehicles.

Those who ride a motorcycle, even for 40-50 years, will be surprised, since at some stage the student driving licence will cease to be valid and will be replaced by a normal licence, after the candidates pass practical courses of an approved driving school. Many of the drivers have never been in the process of securing a normal motorcycle driving licence, which they will be obliged to do in the future.

The issue of compulsory courses was discussed yesterday before the parliamentary Transport Committee and the Deputy Director of the Department of Road Transport, Giannis Nikolaidis, said that the issue was discussed with the associations of driving schools involved and common positions emerged which are reflected in the bill under discussion.

Referring to category B, i.e. the category in which saloon vehicles are classified, Mr Nikolaidis said that instead of five courses that were the original intention, after consultation they increased to ten. When someone is rejected in the examination that will be submitted, they will be required to attend another five courses.

With regard to motorcycles, Mr Nikolaidis said that compulsory training (lessons) would be introduced, which currently applies only to large-scale motorcycles over 600cc (A3). There are no courses for motorcycles in the category of 125cc or even in the category up to 400cc, said Mr Nikolaidis who clarified that interested parties must first obtain a 125cc licence, then a licence with which they can ride a 400cc motorcycle and finally a licence without a cubic restriction.

Special reference was made to delivery men who drive on a student licence, which is considered dangerous. There was a feeling in the bystander position that someone who has been driving on a student licence even for several years doesn’t know how to drive, so he has to go through classes.

It is noted that every year the state collects hundreds of thousands of euros from the issue and/or renewal of marketing authorisations. Many of the drivers because they do not intend to switch to a higher category have never attempted to obtain a normal licence, since they did not need them.

Source: TALA COMMUNITY NEWS: CHANGES AFOOT RE LICENSING, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE

TALA COMMUNITY NEWS: CHANGES AFOOT RE LICENSING, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE Read More »

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 »