NEARLY a quarter of all drivers on the island have penalty points on their licences. According to official police statistics, this amounts to 118,000 out of 420,000 drivers.
Spokesman Demetris Demetriou yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that “6,808 people under the age of 25 have more than six points on their licences, with 1,317 people in total having 10 points or more. Four-hundred and twenty-four people are currently disqualified from driving for between two weeks and one year, for amassing 12 points.”
He added that the high figures were down to “undisciplined drivers who don’t have the correct driving awareness”.
The General Manager of the Cyprus Automobile Association (CAA), Takis Kyriakides, said a real problem existed in Cyprus, when it came to driving standards.
“Drivers in Cyprus are very disobedient of the laws and it just makes me so angry when I see people on the phone, cigarette in hand, trying to make a turn and change gears all at the same time. In Cyprus, we have more drivers with penalty points on their licences than in other EU countries, in relation to the number of drivers. Once a driver receives 12 points on their licence, they are disqualified from driving, while it takes three years from the date of an offence for those particular points to be wiped off a licence.
He said that, “as far as youngsters are concerned, it is a matter of bad attitudes to driving. We are working closely with a special F?d?ration Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) safety foundation, where we try better to educate people on driving standards. In fact, two years ago, as part of the AA’s 70-year celebrations, a special ‘seatbelt slide machine’ was brought to the island, courtesy of the FIA, which showed people the importance of wearing a seat belt.”
When asked whether the introduction of speed cameras on the island would mean more or less people receiving penalty points, Kyriakides said: “I think fewer people will be getting points, as they will learn where the cameras will be located. At the moment, people don’t know where and when the police are carrying out traffic checks. However, I have been reading that speed cameras were being planned as far back as four or five years ago. It’s now about time.”
Demetriou confirmed that around 40 speed, mobile and traffic light cameras were due to be introduced at the end of the year, with more to follow in 2006.
“We have been conducting studies over the past 10 years and have identified accident black spots where the cameras will initially be installed. I believe that more drivers will obey traffic laws after their introduction, resulting in fewer people receiving penalty points on their licences.”
Byron Theodorou, 28, from Nicosia is one of those affected. “I currently have 10 points on my licence, eight of which are for speeding, while two are for talking on my mobile phone. The funny thing is, I’m actually a very careful, conscientious driver, who constantly swears at other drivers who are reckless and put my life in danger.
“It just so happens that the few times I went over the speed limit on long, wide roads, the police sprung out of nowhere and fined me. I agree in principle with what they are doing, but I wish they would actually police the roads at the times when they know reckless, young drivers scare everyone off the road.”
He went on to say that he was “very aware of reaching the 12-point limit and if I were to be banned from driving, I won’t be able to cope as both my job and my personal life would be affected as there is absolutely no adequate alternative.”
