The number of fatal crashes in 2013 decreased to 19.6% in Cyprus and the number of deaths on the roads by 13.7%, with seven fewer deaths than the previous year, said here Wednesday Minister Communications and Works Tasos Mitsopoulos.
Addressing an event on road safety, he said that 2013 saw the implementation of the new Strategic Plan for Road Safety in Cyprus for the period until 2020, endorsing the European target to reduce deaths and injuries in road crashes by 50%.
The priorities for the next decade, he said, are based on European policy orientations on road safety, the recent resolution of the European Parliament as well as on the particular road safety problems of the country.
The Minister said most casualties on the roads are young people, noting that road accidents have become the global leading cause of death for children and young people from 5 to 29 years old.
He said road safety needs to be addressed as a matter of personal and national importance, adding that with proper planning and with the cooperation of the state and society at large, Cyprus can achieve a lot.
He assured people that in his capacity as Chairman of the Road Safety Council he will try to further reduce road collisions.
He wished 2014 to be a better year than 2013 in road crashes, pointing out that nobody wants to mourn more victims