By Bouli Hadjioannou
A POINT system for driving offences, clamping and compulsory use of crash helmets for mopeds are among the measures under review by police in their fight against road accidents.
Documents sent to the House Communications Committee for its on-going probe on fatal traffic accidents show a greater concentration of road deaths over the weekend, at night and over the two summer months of July and August.
They also point to a steady increase in the number of foreigners killed on the island’s roads – from 14 of a total of 101 victims in 1990 to 32 out of a total of 128 in 1996.
The trend continued in the first half of the year with foreigners accounting for 14 of the 43 fatalities, or 32.5 per cent. The number of foreign drivers (tourists, workers or permanent residents) involved in accidents also rose from 1,490 (out of a total of 13,585) in 1995 to 1,520 (out of a total of 12,637) in 1996.
Police have focused on road safety campaigns and more intensive patrols. But they are also considering changes to the law and driving regulations and the use of speed cameras.
According to the police documents, a draft bill is currently under review. Pending a final decision police have asked for speedy action on the following:
* obligation to keep motor vehicles safe * introduction of a point system on drivers licences * warning bars on the back and sides of trucks * extra bumpers * obligations for drivers to ensure unhindered use of their hands while driving * use of crash helmets by passengers on mopeds and motorbicycles
Police said a bill to introduce speed cameras to photograph drivers who were speeding or jumping red lights and to punish them with an out of court fine of £50 for red lights and £1 per kilometre for speeding offences was ready.
But it has still not been approved by the Council of Ministers pending a study on the cost under way at the Finance Ministry.
Police are also pushing for the introduction of clamps to deal with illegal parking, but have found local authorities reluctant to take charge of the scheme.
Police said illegal parking should be the responsibility of local authorities, to allow traffic police the concentrate on cutting road accidents.
They are also trying to be freed from the responsibility of investigating road accidents which involve only material damage – investigations, police said, took up valuable time and manpower resources.
Other proposals include introducing road safety classes in schools as part of the normal curriculum and sending police officers abroad to train on accident investigations, including the reconstruction of accidents on computers.
