Motorcyclists made up one of three road fatalities in 2021

One in three people killed in a traffic accident is a driver or passenger of a motorbike, the latest government data showed on Monday.

For the 2017-2021 period 30 per cent of road collision victims were motorcycle or moped riders, Minister of Transport Yannis Karousos said at an event organised by Trust Insurance Cyprus under the motto ‘Be a responsible driver, for yourself and others’

And, in 2021, 14 of the 45 deaths recorded involved riders or passengers of bikes.

Injury rates were also quite high, Karousos said, with 47 per cent of all serious injuries and 29 per cent of all minor injuries involving motorcyclists.

The figures for 2022 are also worrying, the transport minister said, with numbers having reached 2018 levels when total road fatalities reached 48.

With the goal of reversing the negative trend, the ministry is promoting legislation such as increased safety of the protective gear that must be worn by professional motorcycle and moped drivers.

In addition, drivers’ licensing laws limiting the validity period of a learner’s permit to two years from date-of-issue, have been forwarded to parliament for vote.

Another suggestion under discussion is the implementation of a registration system whereby drivers can self-report high danger spots they encounter on the road network, in order for these to be promptly improved.