Last week, a European Road Safety Charter (ERSC) workshop, organised by the Cyprus Automobile Association (CAA), brought together national and European stakeholders to evaluate Cyprus' progress toward the EU’s “Vision Zero” goal.
George Louca, Director of the Road Transport Department, read a message from Alexis Vafeades, Minister of Transport, Communications & Works, and Chairman of the Road Safety Council. Vafeades reaffirmed Cyprus’s commitment to reducing road deaths by 50% by 2030 and praised the CAA for its leadership in road safety.
However, Cyprus police reported 41 road fatalities in 2024, putting the country off-target. Serious injuries stood at 400—on track—but key risk factors persist: 75% of fatalities occurred in residential areas, and half of the victims were not wearing seatbelts or helmets.
Haris Christodoulou, of the Cyprus Road Safety Council, noted that the previous 2010–2020 target was also missed. He stressed the need for a "safe system" approach, acknowledging that most crashes result from human error.
Tom Deguite, representing the European Road Safety Charter, encouraged greater engagement with the initiative, which now counts over 4,000 members across Europe. He highlighted the Cyprus Automobile Association’s role as the national link to the Charter.
CAA director Nayia Kontopoulou and Vasiliki Danelli-Mylonas of Greece’s Panos Mylonas Institute shared best practices and stressed the importance of cross-border collaboration.
The forum concluded with a shared commitment to step up efforts toward meeting the EU’s road safety goals, including the long-term target of zero road deaths by 2050.
