MVP

Tag: road safety

  • Larnaca Court Remands Young Man for Drink Driving Offences

    Larnaca Court Remands Young Man for Drink Driving Offences

    A 23-year-old man has been remanded for two days by the Larnaca District Court following a series of traffic-related offences, notably drink driving.

    • A 23-year-old man has been remanded for two days by the Larnaca District Court following a series of traffic-related offences, notably drink driving.
    • The incident unfolded around 2:10am on Saturday during a routine traffic stop by the local traffic unit. Officers stopped a vehicle driven by a foreign national who resides permanently in Cyprus.
    • Authorities later recovered the missing breath-testing device from a pool at the suspect's residence. The man now faces multiple charges, including causing malicious damage to police property.

    The incident unfolded around 2:10am on Saturday during a routine traffic stop by the local traffic unit. Officers stopped a vehicle driven by a foreign national who resides permanently in Cyprus.

    Upon approaching the car, police officers detected a strong smell of alcohol emanating from the driver. When requested to provide a preliminary breath sample, the young man refused, escalating the situation.

    In a startling turn of events, as one officer attempted to hold the breath-testing device up to the driver’s window, the suspect suddenly accelerated his vehicle. This reckless attempt to flee resulted in the driver striking the officer’s hand, causing the breath-testing device to fall into the car.

    Fortunately, the officer was unharmed during the incident. Following a coordinated search, police located the suspect’s vehicle at around 11am in the Oroklini area. The 23-year-old was found shortly thereafter and reportedly admitted to the various offences.

    Authorities later recovered the missing breath-testing device from a pool at the suspect’s residence. The man now faces multiple charges, including causing malicious damage to police property.

    The Larnaca District Court has ordered his remand to facilitate further investigation into these serious allegations, reflecting the legal system’s commitment to addressing drink driving and related offences.

  • Tragic Mackenzie Collision Claims Life of Teenage Soldier

    Tragic Mackenzie Collision Claims Life of Teenage Soldier

    mackenzie collision — A 19-year-old National Guard soldier from Aradippou has died following injuries sustained in an incident at the Mackenzie area on Monday night.

    • mackenzie collision — A 19-year-old National Guard soldier from Aradippou has died following injuries sustained in an incident at the Mackenzie area on Monday night.
    • Christos Christaki passed away at approximately 6:10pm today at the American Medical Center in Nicosia, as confirmed by police. Arrangements are currently being made for a post-mortem examination.

    Christos Christaki passed away at approximately 6:10pm today at the American Medical Center in Nicosia, as confirmed by police. Arrangements are currently being made for a post-mortem examination.

    The unfortunate event took place around 11:30pm on Monday in the main car park behind Mackenzie’s entertainment venues. A group of friends, primarily National Guard soldiers on leave, had just exited a local restaurant and were preparing to get into their vehicles to head home.

    Initial witness statements described the tragic occurrence as a traffic accident. According to these early accounts, a 19-year-old driver, along with a passenger of the same age, accidentally struck Christaki while attempting to approach him so he could board the vehicle. Witnesses reported that the young soldier fell to the ground, suffering a serious head injury.

    However, developments in the investigation led to significant changes in the case’s circumstances. A voluntary statement from the 19-year-old driver prompted Larnaca CID to take over the investigation on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the arrest of the suspect.

    The driver was detained and later released, but investigations are ongoing under the direction of Larnaca CID. The community is left in mourning, grappling with the loss of a young life under such tragic circumstances.

  • Larnaca Police Target Street Racing with Seizure of 72 Vehicles

    Larnaca Police Target Street Racing with Seizure of 72 Vehicles

    Police in Larnaca are intensifying their efforts against street racing, a growing issue that has transformed Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue into a late-night race track.

    Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com

    • Police in Larnaca are intensifying their efforts against street racing, a growing issue that has transformed Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue into a late-night race track.

    This busy road, which connects the city to its port, has become a notorious spot for illegal racing activities, despite being equipped with more traffic cameras than any other avenue in the region. The camera system was intended to curb speeding and dangerous driving, yet it has failed to deter night-time racers and motorbike stunts.

    Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com

    Street racing: Ongoing Crackdown

    Since the start of 2025, the Larnaca Traffic Department has conducted eight night-time operations targeting Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue and surrounding areas. In these efforts, police have confiscated a total of 72 vehicles, with 18 of them sent to the Department of Road Transport for emergency inspections due to visible modifications.

    “Vehicles were taken to the Larnaca Traffic Police, where the prescribed procedures were followed against offending drivers, either through out-of-court settlements or criminal prosecution,” a police spokesperson stated. The department emphasised that patrols and campaigns are ongoing, aiming to reduce noise disturbances for local residents and minimise the risk of collisions.

    Evading Detection

    Many offenders have been attempting to evade detection by removing licence plates from their high-powered motorcycles and modified cars, complicating enforcement efforts. This has necessitated large-scale operations by the traffic police, who are committed to tackling the issue head-on.

    Future Measures and Community Concerns

    Despite the existing fixed speed cameras, authorities recognise that the issue persists. The Central Traffic Problems Resolution Body has been alerted to the ongoing situation, leading to approved proposals for an additional fixed camera and the elevation of two pedestrian crossings. This is aimed at slowing down vehicles and enhancing safety in the area. Mobile cameras are also deployed periodically to further address the problem.

    Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue stretches approximately two kilometres, linking major roads in Larnaca, Aradippou, and Livadia with the port area. While it experiences heavy traffic during the day, the evenings have become synonymous with reckless racing, prompting repeated complaints from residents who are affected by the noise and danger associated with these activities.

  • Pending Takata Airbag Recalls Affect 33,000 Vehicles in Cyprus

    Pending Takata Airbag Recalls Affect 33,000 Vehicles in Cyprus

    Approximately 33,000 cars are pending recalls due to defective Takata airbags, according to the Cyprus Road Transport Department (RTD). This number comes from an initial 81,000 cases, and with an early October deadline approaching, officials are urging vehicle owners to act promptly.

    The RTD’s recent updates highlight delays caused by summer closures at several companies involved in the recall process. Of the outstanding cases, around 5,000 vehicles are currently immobilised, while an additional 2,000 have been deregistered. This situation effectively reduces the actual number of vehicles needing urgent repairs before the upcoming deadline.

    As part of the recall efforts, authorities have identified an additional 15,000 vehicles that also require attention for the same airbag defect. Owners of these vehicles have eight months from the notification date to complete necessary repairs. Repair procedures have already begun, with priority given to immobilised vehicles and those on the original recall list facing imminent deadlines.

    Takata airbag: Urgent Call for Vehicle Owners

    The RTD receives ongoing updates from companies regarding the completion rates of these recalls. Currently, multiple companies have confirmed they can accommodate appointments for repairs, yet the department stresses the importance of action from non-responsive owners to schedule their repairs as soon as possible.

    Safety Risks of Defective Airbags

    The recall programme is a critical response to the dangers posed by defective Takata airbag systems, which have the potential to cause serious injury or even death to vehicle occupants. Cyprus is joining a global initiative to resolve this pressing automotive safety issue, which has affected millions worldwide.

    Challenges in Cyprus

    Cyprus faces unique challenges in managing the recall of vehicles, particularly due to its significant “grey” vehicle market. This market includes used cars imported from other countries with minimal oversight, resulting in thousands of potentially hazardous vehicles entering circulation without proper recall notifications. Under local laws, these vehicles must be less than five years old for import, creating a gap where safety defects are not effectively communicated to owners.

    In light of this, the RTD has been focusing on addressing three serious incidents related to Takata airbag explosions within vehicles on the island, two of which were fatal. The investigation has highlighted gaps in communication and responsibility, notably a circular issued on 21 March 2017 that relieved importers of their obligation to inform owners about recalls for grey market vehicles.

    Global Context of the Takata Crisis

    The Takata airbag issue first emerged in 2010 in the United States, evolving into one of the largest automotive recalls in history, affecting over 100 million vehicles globally. The crisis stems from defective inflators that can rupture with excessive force, sending metal fragments into vehicle cabins.

    As the October deadline looms, the RTD continues to work with authorised service centres to ensure repairs can be completed timely. Companies are reporting their readiness to handle the remaining cases, but the urgency for vehicle owners to respond cannot be overstated. With safety at stake, this recall remains a top priority for both local and international authorities.

  • Pending Takata Recalls Affect Thousands of Vehicles

    Pending Takata Recalls Affect Thousands of Vehicles

    takata recalls — Thousands of Takata recalls are still pending as Cyprus’s road transport department (TOM) reported that over half of the 81,000 vehicles affected have been fitted with replacement airbags. As of last week, 33,000 vehicles remain without the necessary repairs.

    • He emphasised that failure to comply within the specified timeframe would result in automatic removal of the vehicles from circulation, highlighting the urgency of the situation for those affected.

    The figures provided by TOM indicate that the recall process has been slower than anticipated due to the summer holidays, which delayed updates. Among the vehicles still awaiting replacement, 5,000 have been immobilised, rendering them inoperable on the roads. Additionally, 2,000 vehicles have been withdrawn from circulation, which has slightly reduced the number of cars that need urgent attention before the upcoming October deadline.

    In a proactive move, TOM has announced that 15,000 more cars have recently been recalled for the same faulty airbag issue. Owners of these vehicles will have eight months from the notification date to arrange for the necessary repairs to avoid their cars being placed out of circulation.

    TOM has assured that protocols are in place to manage these recalls efficiently, prioritising the immobilised vehicles and those on the initial list due to the approaching deadline. According to TOM, regular updates are received from the involved companies regarding the implementation rates of the recalls.

    Reports from the Cyprus News Agency suggest that several service providers have available slots for repairs, and TOM is encouraging affected car owners to make appointments as soon as possible. Marios Hadjigeorgiou, a TOM officer, reiterated the importance of prompt action during an interview on CyBC radio, urging owners to address the recalls swiftly to avoid complications.

    He emphasised that failure to comply within the specified timeframe would result in automatic removal of the vehicles from circulation, highlighting the urgency of the situation for those affected.