A 16-year-old child from Paphos was caught by police driving almost twice the speed limit. He was driving at 92kph on a road with a speed limit of 50kph, and was found to have neither a driving licence nor car insurance.
A 41-year-old driver was acquitted by the Limassol District Court in the 2019 death of school inspector Petros Petrou, 62. The victim was struck by the defendant’s vehicle while crossing a street, and factors such as inadequate lighting and the victim’s dark clothing were considered in the ruling. The Court found the driver was not reckless, driving within the speed limit and designated lane. Expert testimony showed the collision was unavoidable due to a short reaction time. Improvements have been made to the road since the accident. The family of the deceased may choose to appeal the decision.
The traffic camera system in Limassol will extend its operations with the activation of five fixed cameras at two additional locations starting next Monday.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered a federal budget that keeps the deficit capped at billion, thanks to higher-than-expected government revenues and new taxes that largely offset new spending. The budget pledges billion in new spending focused on economic justice for younger generations. The government plans to pay for most of its new spending initiatives with higher taxes on the wealthiest Canadians and businesses, including increasing the capital gains inclusion rate. The deficit, deficit-to-GDP ratio, and debt-to-GDP ratio are projected to fall every year until 2028-29. The federal budget also includes initiatives aimed at boosting the economy’s productivity, such as expanding artificial intelligence capacity and research support.
A 28-year-old defendant was sentenced to 18 months in prison for causing the death of well-known athlete and cyclist Nektarios Pettemerides in a fatal accident. The defendant was driving at a speed of 75-80 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, crossed into the opposite lane, and hit three cyclists, resulting in Pettemerides’ death. The trial lasted two years, with the defendant changing his plea from denial to admission. Thirteen witnesses testified during the hearing, and the severity of the offense and the defendant’s driving behavior were taken into account in the sentencing.
Revenues from fines issued for traffic violations caught by cameras from January 1, 2022, to March 14, 2024, amounted to €9,329,369. Within this period, 323,176 violations were detected, with fines issued for 320,447 of them. Of these, 147,188 fines have been paid, 149,094 are pending payment, and 24,165 are being contested in court. The majority of the fines, totaling 244,665, were for speeding, followed by 38,726 for traffic light violations. Fixed cameras recorded 137,838 violations, while mobile cameras recorded 202,172. Concerns were raised about the system being more focused on collecting fines than deterring traffic violations.
– An underage driver and another minor were apprehended by Game wardens in Argaka, Paphos district, for suspicious activity.
– A 47-year-old taxi driver was caught speeding and tested positive for drugs in a separate incident.
– The vehicle driven by the minors was stopped due to suspicions of illegal hunting.
– The minors were taken to the police station, and their parents were called to collect them.
– The owner of the vehicle, the father of one of the minors, will face criminal charges.
– The taxi driver was driving at 80 km/h in a 65 km/h zone.
The public works department has proposed reducing the speed limit in certain urban areas from 50km/h to 30km/h to reduce fatal car crashes, carbon emissions, and encourage sustainable mobility. This proposal has the support of the police. The reduced speed limit is initially planned for roads with high car traffic and pedestrian use, and roads leading to intersections with frequent accidents, specifically in Nicosia, Larnaca, and Limassol.