Each year it is estimated that 1.2 million healthy people are killed in road accidents and a large proportion of the other 20-50 million are injured or remain disabled for the rest of their lives , said the Minister of Justice Ionas Nicholaou.
At his speech yesterday at the event of presenting the results of the project “Holistic approach to the problem of the inefficient treatment of road accidents phenomenon in Cyprus and recommendations for corrective policy measures “, held at the University of Cyprus, Mr. Nicholaou said that according to the estimates of the World Health Organization, in 2020 the road accidents are expected to be the third cause of dying.
In Cyprus, he continued, in 2013 until today, 39 fatal accidents with 42 deaths were recorded, “while our country is in 2nd place in the EU in relation to the deaths of young people in road crashes.”
“Analyzing the statistics of recent years we find out that a steady decrease in the number of road crashes is recorded. Specifically, in 2010 we achieved a decrease of 41.75% in deaths and 50% in serious injuries from road crashes, by achieving the strategic objective of the EU for a 50% reduction in deaths and serious injury from road collisions starting in 2000”, he added.
Mr. Nicholaou said that during the last three years, during the similar period until today, «we achieved the reduction of deaths from 66 in 2011, to 44 in 2012 and 42 in 2013 , while fatal collisions were decreased from 63 in 2011, into 44 in 2012 and 39 in 2013″.
From the analysis of the results is obvious that reductions cannot be attributed to accidental or casual occurrence, he pointed out and noted that although the problem appears to be improved year by year, however, we do not overlook the need for a more effective confrontation of road accidents phenomenon in Cyprus and the effort for a holistic approach to the problem”. At the same time, he said, pedestrians must also demonstrate road conscience by using the sidewalk instead of the roadway or by wearing reflective clothing and accessories, as cyclists who need to bring a helmet and fluorescent vest”
The goal set, he said, is to approach with great sensitivity and determination the problem of road accidents, in order to achieve a further reduction of traffic collisions by 50% by 2020 compared with 2010.
“In our efforts for road safety awareness cultivation to citizens and more active participation in prevention matters, in collaboration with other Ministries, we are focused particularly on vulnerable groups of young drivers, people with disabilities and people of the third age. Taking as an example other European countries, it is necessary, especially during this time of economic distress that we are in, to promote economic, ecological and beneficial modes of transport, such as cycling, walking and the use of public transportation”, he added.
He also said that driver compliance with traffic rules is not imposed by the harsh police overreaction and the hard face of the police, nor the constant complaints, «if we do not demonstrate respect for the driver and if we do not seek to gain his trust»
“We need to provide opportunities for the drivers to comply with the traffic rules, so we have expanded the Warning / Observation System and from 25.10.2013, the comments are amounted to 2,608 and the warnings to 293,” he added.
Concluding, Mr Nicholaou said that the best and most effective way to raise the public awareness is prevention “and since we -the Government- demonstrate a particular sensitivity to education and in particular to the training of children to the use of roads, and the development and cultivation of road consciousness that should be embedded at an early age, when children acquire attitudes and life skills”.
