New laws in sight after bad year on roads

[Paphos Life]

A fatal traffic accident earlier this week pushed the number of deaths on the roads to the highest it's been in two years, but the police traffic chief on Tuesday said it was hoped things would finally improve with the implementation of stiffer penalties in February....

Read the article and chat about it below...

[trevnhil]

I think the Police need to show their presence more, and actually catch people breaking the existing laws on the road..
Look in any traffic queue, the hill up to Kennedy square as an example.
People with no seat belts on, on the mobile phone, and kids wandering all around the car..

[Dominic]

Need to sort the courts out too. Or have special courts just for traffic and road offences. Otherwise the punishments will just sit in the system for years on end. They need to be out in the open and visible to have any affect.

[Yioula]

I think the whole of the judiciary system here needs a total review bringing it into the 21st century........

[Dominic]

A few years back when i was caught for no road tax the courts seemed pretty quick to me, about 3 months from being caught to paying fine, although i didnt contest it.

Did it actually go to court or did you just get a letter and pay it?

[Jim B]

I firmly believe many accidents here are caused by use of mobile phones when driving. Heavy fines and driving bans are the way to drive the message home. The other day we were nearly it by an SUV coming out the Mall TOTK exit because the driver was trying to punch a number into her mobile. She just carried on making the call even after coming to a stop.

Jim

[WHL]

With a heavy fine, what about confiscating the phone?

[Jim B]

With a heavy fine, what about confiscating the phone?

That's a great idea.

Jim

[Paul]

You can bring in as many laws as you like but it will not work.
Better driver education is what is needed!

[trevnhil]

Well said... We already have laws governing the speeds on roads both in town and country. We have laws about seat-belt wearing and child seats in cars .. And of course you have not to use your phone in the car..
I don't see a need for added laws really

[Jim B]

Trev
As you said, there's no prosecution of the laws which I think is the problem. You can be on the phone next to a police car and there's every chance you will be ignored. If the police started hitting offenders in their pocket it would soon change attitudes. You can educate people all you want but if they believe there's little chance of being prosecuted they will just carry on breaking the law.

Jim

[2QuarterPints]

Always find it a bit baffling when I see someone driving an expensive car with a phone glued to their ear. Some of those cars must have Hands Free fitted as standard.