MOST Cypriot motorists favour the expected increases in fines for not wearing seat belts or helmets and using a mobile phone whilst driving, according to an informal poll carried out by the Cyprus Mail in Nicosia yesterday.
Most felt that bumping up fines from £30 to £50 would act as an effective deterrent, although there was some disagreement about the importance of rear seat belts, and scepticism about how effectively police would enforce the new set of laws.
Legal advisor Zeda Nicolaou’s opinion was typical of those questioned by Cyprus Mail. "Of course it is good, the increase is very good," she said referring to the seat belt stringency. She also supports stiffer helmet fines, as "very, very good", given the danger of motorcycle riding.
Lawyer Doros Vrahimis also praised the instructive nature of the penalties. "It’s not the amount of the fine that matters, it’s to make people realise that it is for their benefit. The fine increase to make people wear helmets is very good, it will save lives," he said.
Nevertheless, some people questioned the higher fines for rear seat passengers, although citing the changes as good in principle. "The fine increase is a good thing, but for the people who are sitting behind, I don’t think the law is so necessary… £50 is too much, £30 would be better," said builder Prokopis Kashis.
"It’s OK for the front seat fines to be high, especially on the motorway, but the back seats are not as important, £30 would be enough," said Nicos Voyias, a Senior Associate at PriceWaterhouseCoopers
On the helmet question, he thought it was "very important and if the increased fine will make people wear helmets, then it is a good thing."
But Yionis Achilleos, who works for the Greek Embassy, doubted that the laws would be enforced fairly. "Whatever laws they pass, we’ll have to accept them. Unfortunately, our laws are only for the few, they don’t stop people with big bikes and the police won’t give tickets to their friends."
As an embassy employee, however, Achilleos’ moped sports ‘CD’ plates, indicating diplomatic immunity and therefore exemption from the proposed changes to the law.
