The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Works has launched a project to implement 30 km/h speed zones in urban areas, aiming to enhance road safety, Minister Alexis Vafeades announced on Thursday following a Road Safety Council meeting.

Justice and Public Order Minister Marios Hartsiotis stated that the council also considered increasing fines for specific traffic code violations that studies have shown to contribute significantly to fatal accidents, such as mobile phone use while driving.

Following the meeting, Vafeades emphasized that the discussion covered a wide range of topics aimed at improving road safety. He highlighted two key areas of focus.

The first concerns personal mobility devices, specifically e-scooters. He explained that an action plan has been developed to propose safety measures and regulations to minimize accidents and prevent future incidents. "Our goal is to prevent accidents before they happen," he stressed.

Additionally, the Ministry of Transport has initiated the implementation of 30 km/h speed zones in city centers. Vafeades noted that urban areas experience significantly more traffic accidents than interurban roads, making this measure a crucial step toward improving road safety. He added that the initiative aims to encourage greater use of roads and sidewalks by pedestrians and cyclists.

To support this effort, the government will launch a €500,000 subsidy program from the Ministry of Transport’s budget to co-finance projects selected by municipalities for the implementation of 30 km/h zones.

The council also discussed the formation of committees to manage road safety-related issues. Vafeades stated that recommendations submitted by the Scientific and Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK) have been referred to these committees for review. The outcomes will be presented at the next Road Safety Council meeting.

Justice Minister Hartsiotis emphasized the importance of the topics addressed during the meeting. One key issue was the introduction of a driver rehabilitation school, which has been in development for a long time but is now in the implementation phase. He announced that the tender process for the project is underway, with a submission deadline of March 28.

Hartsiotis noted that significant interest has been expressed during the tender process, and questions regarding the bid terms have already been addressed. Once submissions are complete, an evaluation will follow, with contract awarding expected by June. The school is anticipated to begin operations by autumn or late 2025.

Another topic of discussion was the potential increase in penalties for serious traffic violations that have been identified as major contributors to fatal accidents. "One of these is mobile phone use while driving," Hartsiotis stated, adding that further discussions on penalty adjustments will take place in future meetings.