'BLOOD FLOWS ON THE ASPHALT' - FATAL ROAD ACCIDENTS

 Filenews 15 August 2020 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis

Statistics on fatal road collisions are shocking this year, as every week we mourn a body on the asphalt, and the price is heavy for pedestrians and drivers. To date we count 27 road deaths on Cypriot roads, two more than last year and as Traffic calculates if we do not comply with the Road Traffic Code, by the end of the year unfortunately another 20 lives will be lost. What is most shocking is that 63.5% of dead drivers and 52% of dead motorcyclists this year might have been saved if they had used seat belts and a protective helmet, respectively.

Unfortunately, the Traffic Department finds that the first cause of death on the roads is speeding and negligent driving, confirming investigations showing the Cypriot driver to be hasty, impatient and careless at the wheel. Most deaths are recorded in the cities and provinces of Limassol and Nicosia, while July is the worst month in terms of road deaths.

The statistics will help traffic controllers in conjunction with other years to draw precise conclusions about what steps should be taken to stop blood flowing on the asphalt. Characteristic of the data until the first days of August is that even while the whole of Cyprus was quarantined and trafficked only in exceptions, we continued to lose lives on the roads. However, in April, zero deaths were recorded on the asphalt for the first time.

Statistics also show that 27% of those killed in accidents are young people up to the age of 25 , i.e. more than one in four, while 47% are people aged 60 and over, i.e. almost one in two who are lost on the roads is older.

According to the traffic data obtained by "F", this year, despite more than a month and a half of restrictions on traffic by citizens due to coronavirus, things in terms of deaths as a result of road collisions in our country are not good and show that we will have a worse year than last year, if no measures are taken or if there is no co-action by drivers.

To date, 27 deaths have been recorded in traffic accidents with the sad first being held jointly by Nicosia and Limassol from nine dead, followed by Larnaca with four, Paphos with three, Famagusta with two and only the province of Morfos has not recorded a death. In 2019 a total of 52 deaths were recorded (all year round), with most occurring in Nicosia (15), followed by Limassol with 14, Paphos with seven, Larnaca and Morfos with six and Famagusta with four dead. In 2018 the total death toll stood at 49.

Worst month according to statistics is July after we mourn 7 of our fellow human beings (one dead every four days) followed by January with five dead, February with four and the months of March, May and June by three dead. In August, two dead people were recorded on the asphalt. Last year the most road deaths were recorded in August and October by 7, while another six of our fellow human beings perished in December.

Pedestrians and drivers pay a great price on the asphalt, since so far eight of our fellow human beings have died on the asphalt respectively. Six others were motorcycle drivers, three were in a vehicle and one motorcycle passenger. Of the nine dead drivers, only three wore seat belts, while of the motorcyclists only two wore a helmet, four were found not to have, while in one case it is unknown whether or not the driver wore a helmet.

On motorways considered the safest roads, two lives were lost this year, while last year the death toll rose to three and in 2018 to six.

Worst day this year Monday

Sunday and Monday are the worst days of the week, with most fatal accidents occurring. According to Traffic Data, six deaths were recorded this year on Monday, five On Sundays and from four Saturdays and Thursdays. Last year's worst day was Friday with 12 dead.

In terms of the hours most fatal accidents are recorded, it's from 8:00 p.m. to midnight. Specifically, eight of the 27 victims this year were killed between the hours of 8pm - 12pm. Remarkably, the rest of the day, except in the morning, we had the rest of the dead.

First cause of negligent driving

The leading cause of death this year is careless and negligent driving. It is typical that two drivers died when they were outside their vehicle which moved forward and tried unsuccessfully to stop it.

A total of seven people were killed for careless and negligent driving , while the second cause of death on the roads is speeding. The third reason why lives are lost at the wheel is driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Specifically, according to data, three dead are recorded with this cause. Three others were killed because a driver carelessly turned right. Four of the eight pedestrians were killed either by mistake or by careless crossing, while two other pedestrians were fatally dragged because a passing vehicle driver did not prioritise them while crossing a pedestrian crossing. Finally, two drivers were lost to negligent overtaking and the other due to failure to observe a left side of the road.

Also characteristic this year is that most drivers were killed without getting involved in the accident second vehicle, i.e. killed either by carelessness or by another cause. As the assistant manager of traffic, Haris Evripidou, told "F", the human factor is the first cause of death, i.e. neither the vehicle nor the road nor any other exogenous factor is to blame.