Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Taken from North Cyprus news :

The Head of the Turkish Cypriot Prevention of Road Traffic Accidents Association Dr Mehmet Avci said the figures for road traffic accidents in the north was damning. According to statistics, 722 people have died in traffic accidents over the past 16 years. He said the numbers were both “saddening and frightening”.

The data show that between 2001 and 2016 there have been 603 fatal accidents, leading to 722 deaths.

Avci blamed the past and current administrations for not acting to counter the problem.

“Road-related deaths this year include children who have been caught under tractors, people without seat belts, babies and infants not in their baby chairs coupled with speeding,” he said and that in 2016, 28 people had died.

“Looking at the statistics over the last year, it’s easy to see that nothing has been done to help reduce the number of accidents and fatalities. No preventive measures on the roads, no improvement to road safety, nothing,” he added.

Between 2001 and 2015, 12,658 people were injured in traffic accidents.

Recently, police patrols have been few and far between, Avci noted, also pointing out that traffic laws had not been updated either.

The traffic department had been established so that more rapid decisions and actions could be taken under one roof.

“However this department has never made its presence felt,” he noted. “If this department carried out proper campaigns, briefing, education programmes and controls, at least 5-10 people could have been saved”.

The traffic department’s main function was to increase road safety, reduce the number of accidents and prevent illegal communal transportation, said Avci.


It doesn't shock me, the driving standards here are atrocious. I am only surprised that the death figure isn't higher!

Cyprus Rally 2016 starts on Friday .... thought it had already started in January !!!

Sadly nothing will change irrespective of the number of deaths on the roads. Traffic Police here only appear after dark, with the usual radar trap a the roundabout at the bottom of the mountain road into Girne. Last week whilst visiting the old town of Famagusta, there was some kind of visit to the Mosque by a dignitary, the surrounding roads were full of Police Officers, as we walked down a narrow street, a car passed us, the driver deep in conversation on his mobile, we watched as he drove slowly passed three Police officers (still on his phone). They didn't even stop him to at least tell him to get off his phone. Another incident, Three cars went through a red light, followed by a police car then two more cars behind that!
You do not need to be a trained Mechanic to see that 1 in 5 cars on the road here should be scrapped and a higher ratio of them untaxed and no MOT's.
The Traffic Police need to get out more and do their jobs. Anybody walked passed the Traffic Cops Office in Girne Police station lately?

Had a serious accident year before last. Hit from behind, eight people involved in two cars, all wearing seat belts and nobody was injured.
As for MOT's in TRNC, they do not exist.
Figures shown above/below are shocking. About time someone in government took hold of the reigns and does something about it.

Virtually every trip out I have a near miss, sometimes as many as 3 or 4 on a short journey. To be quite frank and honest, most of the locals should not be behind the wheel of a Car , or the handlebars of Bike or Scooter. Sounds harsh , but its a fact.

Every time I venture out in my car I'm running the gauntlet and everywhere you look the police are themselves breaking the law.

The police should lead by their own example and then start to enforce the law.

This will help to save many lives.




I

Lawless drivers with Lawless Police is a bad combination leading to unnecessary road fatalities.

We were talking to our next door neighbour, a policeman at Lapta, we were discussing the issue of driving and commented that the speed everyone drives at is a major factor in the number of accidents and fatalities on the roads. He fully agreed with us, but said , "oh yes, it is the Turkish mainlanders who drive too fast ", so now we know where the problem lies.

It's not just driving fast/speed that can cause accidents.
Turning off main roads, without indicating.
Cars driving on to main roads, without checking if it's safe.
Taking corners on the wrong side of the road.
Gabbing on their mobiles.
Wondering all over the road, for no apparent reason.
Sitting their kids on their lap to steer car.
Slowing down to walking pace, on straight roads.
Just some of the sights, I've seen over the years.

I nearly T-boned a Ferrari, he was coming out of Acapulco.
He saw me, put his foot down, wheels just spun on the spot.
You should've seen his face
I drove round the back of him.
Navek

Saw a lovely one today. A woman driver clearly wanted to go from one side of the road to the other but couldn't because of bollards in the middle of the road. So she drove until she came to a pedestrian crossing and then changed direction by driving through the pedestrian crossing, thereby changing direction and ending up going the opposite way. This happened about 10ft from a roundabout. No-one batted an eyelid. Normal procedure it would appear.!!