The goal is to reduce deaths and serious injuries from traffic collisions by 50% by 2030, said the Minister of Transportation, Communications and Public Works and Chair of the Road Safety Council, Evi Tsolaki, during the presentation of a new public awareness campaign aimed at preventing distracted driving and protecting vulnerable road users.
In her remarks at an event held on Saturday in Limassol, Ms. Tsolaki stated that the campaign focuses on protecting young people and vulnerable road users, as well as on the tragic consequences of distracted driving.
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Citing data for Cyprus, she noted that during the 2021–2025 period, motorcyclists accounted for 38% and young people 26% of all those who lost their lives in traffic collisions.
“Behind every statistic lies a human life lost and a family experiencing an irreparable loss,” he said, noting that, in light of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 15, our thoughts turn to those who have lost their lives or been injured on the roads, and to their families.
The Minister referred to the initiatives being implemented by the Ministry to protect motorcyclists, noting that a subsidy program for the purchase of airbag safety equipment has been in place for the past four years.
At the same time, he mentioned the approved grants to local authorities for the creation of 30-kilometer-per-hour speed-limit zones, particularly in areas around schools and in residential neighborhoods.
As he noted, approximately 60% of fatal traffic collisions and 80% of collisions resulting in injuries occur in urban areas. Reducing speed, he added, gives drivers more reaction time and limits the severity of the consequences of a collision.
Regarding distractions, Ms. Tsolaki noted that even a notification on a cell phone can cause a driver to lose focus, with potentially tragic consequences for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
She urged drivers to plan their route before setting out, to put their cell phones away while driving, and, if they need to use it, to pull over to a safe spot first.
Referring to the 2021–2030 Strategic Road Safety Plan, the Minister of Transportation said that the interim goal of reducing deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030 requires consistency, systematic effort, and coordinated action from everyone.
She added that the road safety policy includes safer infrastructure, legislative and institutional measures, awareness campaigns, prevention measures, and cooperation with relevant agencies and local authorities.
“Our goal is to create a road environment that does not leave human safety to chance, but rather establishes the conditions so that human error does not result in tragedy,” he said, referring to the philosophy of Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from traffic collisions.
The Mayor of Limassol, Yiannis Armeftis, who spoke about the importance of enforcing the 30-kilometer-per-hour speed limit on the city’s streets.
As he said, the Limassol Municipality considers this measure particularly important so that a parent can walk safely with their child, for an elderly person not to be afraid to get around the city, and for a cyclist to be less at risk while enjoying a ride.
The campaign, developed in collaboration with the Press and Information Office, includes a TV commercial, a radio spot, posters, and digital ads, with the central message: “Someone else’s mistake could be your last.”
Source: CNA
