The number of serious car accidents in 2013 was down by 19.6%, while the number of fatalities dropped by 13.7%, announced Communications and Works Minister Tasos Mitsopoulos.
In a written statement, Mitsopoulos, in his capacity as chairman of the Road Safety Council, expressed his “profound satisfaction for the decline in fatalities from road accidents in 2013, making last year the best year since 1960″.
“The number of fatal car collisions was down by 19.6% and the number of fatalities by 13.7%, with seven deaths less in 2013 compared to 2012″, the Minister remarked.
He said this decline is due to collective and consistent work and cooperation between the public and the private sector, the Traffic Department as well as volunteer organizations working together with the state to achieve zero fatalities in road accidents.
This positive result, he pointed out, “should not make us complacent. We continue determined with the same intensity to achieve the paneuropean target to reduce fatalities from road accidents by 2020 by 50%. We should make it a way of life for all citizens, especially young people who are mostly the victims of road accidents”.
Last year saw the lowest number of fatal crashes on Cyprus’ roads since 1960 and a 13% reduction in road deaths compared to 2012.