The Cyprus transport ministry has announced that written exams for the certificate of professional competence (CPC) for lorry and bus drivers will now be available in English. Previously, the exams were only offered in Greek and Turkish.
This change aims to increase accessibility for non-Greek-speaking drivers and create a fairer, more functional training and certification system. The ministry emphasized that the move will help ensure equal opportunities while maintaining high standards of competence and road safety.
Concerns have been raised by human rights committee MPs in Cyprus regarding high car insurance costs for drivers over 70, which they describe as discriminatory. Independent MP Alexandra Attalides has proposed a bill to amend insurance laws, ensuring fair treatment for elderly drivers.
Attalides highlighted complaints showing insurance hikes of up to 220% without any proven link to driving behavior.
She cited Cyprus police data, which indicates that older drivers are involved in fewer accidents compared to other age groups. The bill aims to prevent excessive premiums and ensure policies are based on driving history rather than age.
MPs from Akel and Disy expressed support for the proposal, with Akel MP Irene Charalambidou vowing to fast-track the bill. She criticized the lack of oversight in how insurers treat elderly drivers and questioned how seniors can remain mobile if they cannot afford insurance.
The debate also revealed that some insurance companies expect older drivers to subsidize the higher risk of younger ones, despite statistics showing seniors are involved in the fewest accidents. The proposal seeks to align Cyprus with other countries where elderly drivers are rewarded with lower premiums due to their careful driving habits.
Authorities in Cyprus have begun filing criminal court cases against drivers who failed to settle their traffic camera fines before the deadline.
Since January 8, 2025, around 80,000 people have paid their fines, but over 100,000 remain outstanding, some dating back to 2021. Police, in consultation with the Legal Service, are gradually registering criminal proceedings, including cases where individuals avoided being served the fine despite being located.
If a case reaches court, the judge is not bound by the initially stipulated penalty but can impose higher fines based on violation legislation.
Meanwhile, the payment platform remains operational for citizens to check and pay outstanding fines, provided criminal prosecution has not started against them.
There is also ongoing discussion about implementing a “photoradar list” to flag individuals with unpaid fines at airports, ports, and checkpoints.
Additionally, a pending bill in parliament may require police to announce the roads where mobile traffic cameras will be placed.
Speed cameras in Cyprus are strategically deployed based on long-term studies and data—not randomly or on a whim. Traffic police director Charis Evripidou stated that the decision on where and when to install these cameras relies on scientific analysis and 20 years of accumulated experience. The aim is not to unfairly target drivers but to enhance road safety by addressing known high-risk locations.
Evripidou highlighted that specific spots, such as certain roundabouts where speed limits change, have been identified as dangerous due to past accident data.
He cited recent incidents—like those near the Nicosia general hospital roundabout and a nearby Ikea store—as clear examples demonstrating the need for continuous and unpredictable speed enforcement.
Moreover, he dismissed claims that the cameras lead to unjust fines for drivers barely exceeding the limits, emphasizing that the system is part of a broader strategy to reduce fatalities rather than simply punish motorists.
He also noted that Cyprus employs a speed tolerance policy—20% on intercity roads and 10% plus an additional 2 km/h in urban areas—to ensure fairness in enforcement .
Four lives were lost on the roads over 48 hours in the last week. Three of them were hit by other vehicles, while the fourth – a 23-year-old man – had reportedly lost control of the high-powered motorcycle he was riding. One of the victims was a 69-year-old pedestrian, hit by a motorbike while on a pedestrian crossing, while the other two were motorcyclists who were hit by cars.
Pedestrians and motorcyclists are the most vulnerable road users. Last year, of the 41 road fatalities, 10 were motorcyclists and 10 were pedestrians. Motorcyclists, who made up 25 per cent of the fatalities in 2024, accounted for only 7 per cent of vehicle users on the roads. And they are not all youths speeding and taking risks on the road, as two of last week’s accidents showed.
Police regularly undertake road safety campaigns in an attempt to ‘educate’ drivers and improve road behaviour. Although these campaigns are necessary and are gradually improving road behaviour, they are not enough to make our roads safer. These must be backed by the harsh punishment of traffic offences which are undoubtedly the most effective method for disciplining drivers.
The biggest enemies of the tough punishment school are the politicians and particularly deputies, who are constantly attempting to reduce fines. It took more than two decades after the decision was taken for the government to finally introduce traffic cameras (the original attempt was abandoned after just a few months). And now that thousands have been fined, deputies are doing everything they can to reduce their effectiveness.
Deputies from all the parties want fines reduced and longer periods for the payment while also placing legal obstacles in the way the fines are collected. They are also proposing the reduction of the period for the deletion of penalty points from three to two years. It is an outrage that legislators want to reduce the penalties imposed on traffic offenders, as if drivers who take risks that put other road-users lives at risk deserve to be shown lenience by the authorities.
This irresponsible political behaviour was castigated by the head of the traffic police, Haris Evripidou, who told Phileleftheros: “We amended the out of court fine arrangement which changes the whole procedure. We are sending the wrong message when we relax penalty points and the (fine) payment period. Other countries are taking tougher measures.”
The traffic cameras had proved very effective in the first two years of use, said Evripidou, lamenting the fact that “some have no understanding and change the legislation with great ease.” Perhaps the police command should be more forceful in opposing pandering to traffic offenders by populist deputies. This level of irresponsibility, which puts lives at risk for the sake of votes, must be called out.
Big fines and penalty points for traffic offenders are the only way to make our roads safer. This must be non-negotiable.
Cyprus hopes to introduce new traffic regulations to improve road safety and give drivers more flexibility. Key changes include:
Countdown timers to be installed at traffic lights monitored by cameras to help drivers comply with signals. Authorities have six months to implement this, or fines for running red lights will be suspended.
Extended deadlines for traffic violations: The prosecution period for offenses captured by traffic cameras has been increased from 30 to 105 days. Additionally, drivers now have 90 days (up from 30) to pay fines before they increase by 50%.
Penalty points for traffic violations will expire after two years instead of being permanent.
These measures aim to enhance compliance and reduce the financial burden on drivers. Let me know if you’d like more details!
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades reassured motorists that despite Monday’s mass recall of over 80,000 cars with potentially dangerous Takata airbags, the risk of driving these cars is very low. He emphasized that implementing the recall is the only way to remove the risk and that not all Takata airbags are defective.
276 vehicles were immediately immobilized, losing their road tax and MOT certificates. Owners of other recalled vehicles can still use their cars but must have the airbags replaced within eight months. The manufacturers will cover the replacement costs.
Vafeades also mentioned that the government is working on a plan to assist with the recalls and is considering offering free bus travel to those with immobilized vehicles
The Cyprus Government are discussing a proposal for mandatory dashcams in cars in Cyprus.
Authorities are divided on the issue, with some supporting it for improving road safety and aiding in accident investigations, while others are concerned about privacy and data protection.
The proposal aims to clarify the legal status of dashcams and potentially allow their footage to be used as evidence in court
