Cyprus has recorded 27 road deaths since the start this year, with motorcyclists accounting for more than half the toll following the death of a 30-year-old rider on Sunday night.

Police spokesperson Vyron Vyronos appealed to drivers to observe the highway code and to remember that their lives are at risk every moment they spend on the road.

He said the police aim to cultivate “a culture of road awareness”, while acknowledging that “there are no magic solutions” to the problem at hand.

He further urged drivers to remember that “someone is waiting for them at home.”

Of the 27 fatalities recorded this year, 14 involved motorcyclists, representing near half of all victims.

The current toll remains high when set against last year, the deadliest on record in the past five years with 45 fatalities recorded.

By the same date last year, 27 deaths had likewise occurred.

Vyronos said the police maintain “a strong presence on the road”, carrying out campaigns and targeted policing in areas identified as high risk.

A campaign targeting mobile phone use while driving is under way this week, addressing “one of the high-risk factors that cause fatal traffic accidents”.

Asked what more could be done to curb distracted driving, Vyronos said greater effort was needed from the police and other agencies alike, alongside systematic education beginning at a young age.

Careless driving, speeding and phone related distraction remain key factors regarding fatal incidents, according to police data, with young drivers under 24 continuing to feature prominently among victims, a pattern consistent with trends across Europe.

Vyronos said the aim could not be to eliminate accidents entirely but rather to reduce both their frequency and severity.