Transport Minister addresses road safety at Nicosia conference

On Tuesday, Cyprus Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades spoke at the Harm Reduction Conference 2026 in Nicosia regarding road safety statistics and planned legislative updates. He reported that alcohol and drugs contribute to 24% of fatal road collisions in Cyprus, while mobile phone use quadruples the risk of an accident. Vafeades announced a new legislative framework for professional motorcyclists to be implemented in the coming months, citing that motorcyclists are 14 times more likely to die in a collision than car drivers. The framework will mandate stricter licensing and certified safety equipment. Globally, the WHO reports 1.19 million road traffic deaths annually, while the EU recorded 19,400 fatalities and 100,000 serious injuries in 2025. The EU aims to reduce these figures by 50% by 2030. Additionally, the ministry is promoting 30km/h zones in Cyprus to reduce pedestrian fatality risks, which rise significantly when speeds increase from 30km/h to 50km/h.