Cyprus Transport Minister identifies mobile phone use as leading cause of accidents

Cypriot Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeades, identified the use of mobile phones by drivers as the primary cause of road accidents in the country. Speaking on Saturday at the '48 Hours Cyprus' classic car rally in Nicosia, the Minister addressed a recent fatal incident involving a motorcyclist. He emphasized that driver distraction and the failure to protect vulnerable road users have now surpassed speed as the most critical safety issues. Regarding recent protests by bus drivers against the traffic camera system, Mr. Vafeades stated that the Ministry is exploring ways to provide faster warnings to drivers. However, he maintained that the traffic code must be strictly enforced, particularly by professional drivers. The government plans to focus on better road network management and improved training for drivers. The Minister underscored that crossing a traffic light stop line during a red signal remains a clear violation of regulations.