An open wound that is bleeding more and more, the deadly traffic collisions for the Cypriot society. The cultivation of road consciousness in Cypriot drivers is more than an imperative since the annual price on asphalt is very heavy. Although the numbers of fatal collisions for 2019 so far are slightly improved compared to the previous two years, nevertheless the goal set by the Traffic Police on an annual basis to reduce collisions does not seem to be achieved.
According to the official data of the Traffic Police, for 2018 from 1/1/2019 to 29/5/2019 the deaths from fatal accidents amounted to 12 in corresponding fatal road collisions. During the same period in 2018, there were 17 fatalities, recording 19 dead. During the same period, in 2017 there were 15 traffic collisions with 17 dead.
Which cities have the highest numbers?
In the total of the previous two years, Nicosia and Limassol record high numbers, while for 2018 Paphos is high in the numbers, specifically in the 2nd place after Limassol. In 2017, 20 fatal traffic accidents were recorded in Nicosia, leaving behind 22 victims, while in 2018, 8 fatal traffic accidents were recorded with 8 dead, in Limassol 14 fatal with 17 dead, while in Paphos there were 9 fatal with 11 dead.
Fatal road traffic accidents by Province, for the period 1/1/2017 - 29/5/2019
Analytically for 2019, there were 2 fatal traffic accidents with 3 dead in Nicosia, Larnaca and Paphos, in Limassol, 2 fatal traffic accidents with two dead, while in Famagusta, 1 fatal traffic accident with one dead.
In the lower strata the provinces of Larnaca and Famagusta as, in the total numbers of the two years Larnaca for 2017 record 5 fatalities with 5 dead while Famagusta 3 fatal with 3 dead.
However, for 2018 the numbers are rising, for Larnaca in 8 deadly clashes with 8 victims while in Famagusta there were 4 fatalities with 4 dead. In the region of Morphou, in 2017 there were 2 deadly conflicts for 2018 and none so far for 2019.
Pedestrians, motorcyclists and drivers are the "easy" victims on the asphalt
By comparison, pedestrians, motorcyclists and drivers, according to police statistics, are the most vulnerable to becoming victims of road accidents.
Specifically, for the whole of 2017, the pedestrians who lost their lives in traffic accidents amount to 15 at a rate of 28,30% of the total, while in 2018 during the same period 8 pedestrians exhaled on the asphalt at a rate of 16,33% on of the total. For 2019 until 29/5 only two pedestrians are among the victims of traffic collisions.
Dead from road traffic accidents by property, for the period 1/1/2017 - 29/5/2019
Motorcyclists on the other hand are a high risk group on asphalt, as they are considered prone to traffic collisions for two reasons. On the one hand, due attention is not paid by drivers to motorcyclists, while on the other hand, the use of helmets and appropriate equipment is not observed. As the numbers show, the deadly road collisions with motorcyclists are also at high levels, since in 2017 14 were killed in road collisions, recording a percentage of 26,42%.
For 2019 so far 7 motorcyclists have lost their lives on the asphalt and are the team with the highest number so far.
The Cypriot driver, who is careless, hasty, irresponsible and rude, manages to keep the percentages of the victims in road collisions high. In 2017, 12 dead drivers were recorded at a rate of 22,64% of the total, while in 2018, 19 drivers were recorded who lost their lives in road collisions, at a rate of 38,78%. In 2019 only one fatal traffic accident has occurred, with the victim being a vehicle driver.
Most victims between 15 and 39 years old
The death toll from deadly road accidents is between 25 and 15 years old for 39, while for the next year the number remained the same. The numbers of victims over 2017 are also high.
Dead from road traffic accidents by age group, for the period 1/1/2017 - 29/5/2019
It is worth noting that the majority of most road accident victims are men since in 2017 45 women lost their lives and respectively 2 women, in 2018, 38 men and 10 women while so far for 2019, 10 men and two women.
Dead from road traffic accidents by gender, for the period 1/1/2017 - 29/5/2019
Traffic: Control and information campaigns
Speaking to philenews, the Head of the Traffic Headquarters, Haris Evripidou, commented that there is a reduction in fatal road collisions, however the goal of the reduction is given in order to end the year with as few victims on the asphalt as possible. Targeted traffic campaigns continue with a focus on the use of seat belts and helmets in the case of motorcyclists as well as other traffic violations related to road safety.
He stressed that the non-use of helmets by motorcyclists is a major issue as the largest number of motorcyclists who lose their lives on the tarmac ride without a helmet.
In fact, according to Mr. Evripidou, the Traffic Police has already planned various pan-Cypriot information actions for the use of helmets in collaboration with Motorcyclists Associations.
Source: philenews / Myrto Zoumidou