In 2024, Cyprus recorded 44 road deaths per million inhabitants.
This indicator placed the country in 14th place in the EU. Despite the gradual improvement in general statistics, experts note serious safety problems on the roads, especially among young people and drivers of two-wheeled vehicles.
According to a working paper by the European Commission, the vast majority of fatal accidents and serious injuries on the island occur in urban areas. The main reason remains speeding, as well as non-compliance with traffic rules.
Cyprus has made significant progress in recent years. From 2019 to 2024, the number of deaths on the roads decreased by 21%. The number of seriously injured people has also decreased: in 2022, there were 253 people, which is 26% less than in 2019. These indicators suggest that the country is gradually approaching the goal of halving road deaths and injuries by 2030 compared to 2020.
Nevertheless, statistics show that the problem remains serious. More than 63.5% of fatal accidents occur in cities, and among serious injuries, the proportion of urban accidents reaches 80%. This is directly related to the high traffic density and frequent violations of the speed limit.
Of particular concern is the high mortality rate among young people. Residents under the age of 24 account for 26.1% of all road deaths, which is significantly higher than the European average. Experts attribute this to a lack of driving experience, risky behavior, and frequent disregard for safety regulations.
The situation with motorcyclists and moped drivers remains equally alarming. They account for 31.4% of all deaths in road accidents. In 2022, two-wheeled vehicles were responsible for 19% of fatal accidents and 18% of serious injuries. Urban roads remain especially dangerous, where such road users most often get into accidents.
There is also a high mortality rate among pedestrians — their share is 23.5%. Another feature of Cyprus is the significant proportion of dead foreigners — 27.3%, which exceeds their percentage in the total population.
The document of the European Commission emphasizes that mass violations of traffic rules remain the key factors of road accidents. Speeding is recorded in 37% of cases in cities, in 19% — on rural roads and in 64% — on motorways. Driving under the influence of alcohol remains a serious problem: 15.2% of fatal accidents are alcohol—related, and 8.3% are drug-related.
It is also common to ignore seat belts and safety helmets. More than half of the dead car passengers were not wearing seat belts, and 44% of the dead motorcyclists were riding without helmets. The use of mobile phones while driving also plays a significant role — driver inattention has caused 24% of fatal accidents.
The Cyprus National Road Safety Strategy for 2021-2030 includes 158 measures in eight areas, from stricter legislation to infrastructure modernization. Most of the initiatives are already being implemented, and implementation is proceeding according to plan in 16 areas, while measures have been fully implemented in four areas.
However, progress is hampered by organizational problems, a shortage of specialists and limited funding. These factors negatively affect the implementation of programs, especially those related to urban infrastructure, safe driving speeds, and the protection of vulnerable road users.
Despite the marked decrease in mortality, experts believe that Cyprus needs to accelerate reforms and remove existing obstacles. The focus in the coming years will be on improving urban safety, combating speeding, and improving driving culture.
Current trends show that the country is on track to achieve the 2030 Goals, but a sustainable result is only possible with increased monitoring, expanded prevention campaigns, and modernization of road infrastructure.
A source: cyprus-mail.com
https://cyprusbutterfly.com.cy/news/kipr-zanimaet-14-e-mesto-v-es-po-chislu-smertelnyix-sluchaev-na-dorogax
