📈 Road deaths rising
- Cyprus has seen an increase in road fatalities this year, with 43 deaths in 43 collisions reported so far — up compared with last year.
🏍️ Motorcyclist deaths surpass car drivers
- For the first time, motorcyclists (16) have outnumbered car drivers (13) in the fatality figures.
📱 Major role of distraction / mobile phones
- Driver distraction, strongly linked to mobile phone use, is highlighted as a leading cause.
- Careless driving/distraction accounted for 11 deaths and overall inattentive driving factors were linked to 19 of the deaths.
👶 Young people & vulnerable road users
- Eleven of the victims were aged up to 25, including eight young motorcyclists.
- There were also eight pedestrian and three cyclist deaths.
🚨 Other contributing causes
- Besides distraction, fatalities included cases involving alcohol or drugs (five victims) and speed (two victims).
📍 Most affected area
- Limassol recorded the highest number of road fatalities (15).
⚖️ Government response
- Officials say the figures endanger Cyprus’s goal to cut road deaths by 50% by 2030, and are pushing for urgent corrective measures early next year.
- Plans include potential legislative changes such as zero alcohol tolerance for young drivers and improvements to police resources and technology.