By Ismail Veli…….
Like most people who hear and read of the tragic deaths due to road accidents and car crashes in North Cyprus, it fills me with sadness and sometimes anger. Reading the recent article by Chris Elliott and the interview with ex UK policeman John Snowby click here, I was impressed with his experience and advice to this never ending problem which seems to claim lives on a regular basis. Not being an expert on this subject in any shape or form I nevertheless felt it useful to add another voice based on my own experience of driving in North Cyprus.
Other than the UK, Cyprus is the only place where I have ever driven. Strangely I feel safe driving there not because of the great road system or the careless driving habits of the locals, but simply because, using my experience of congested and crowded roads in the UK, I find Cyprus relatively empty traffic-wise.
Ultimately a bit of caution and common sense backed by years of experience has taught me to drive carefully and in particular be on the alert for suicidal drivers who seem to have little regard for safety. The first principle I apply is, if some crazy driver comes too close behind me, I simply slow up further until they realise I will not be intimidated and they simply pass me by, often giving me dirty looks. Some junctions are so awkward that any driver simply needs to use extreme care when crossing over.
In a tiny country of only 300.000 people, how the government can tolerate a death toll of 722 deaths since 2001 and a staggering 12.658 injuries between 2001 and 2015 is beyond comprehension.
This statistic is from The Head of TKOD the Turkish Cypriot Prevention of Road Tr
affic Accidents Association, Dr Mehmet Avci, and is the worst in the whole of Europe. As much as 41.554 accidents were recorded in 2015. this is about one in seven of the total population.
Click here and click here to visit TKOD on Facebook to learn more of their efforts and the initiatives they make to try and educate people of the dangers of careless and dangerous driving.
MOT tests which are not properly supervised only take place every 3 years. This is a sad indictment of a system that does little to punish careless drivers. Sadly I noticed that many drivers actually flash opposing drivers to warn them that a police car or camera is in the area. I find this extraordinary, it simply supports carelessness and speeding while condoning injuries inflicted by such drivers. Not that the local population would admit to such an accusation.
Strangely many people often and rightly do complain about the lack of a serious government strategy to reduce such accidents, but rarely do they themselves adhere to the principles of caution they argue about. The national habit ingrained in our psychic makeup seems to be ”It’s someone else’s fault, and nothing to do with me”.
As Cypriots, with much justification we raise hell about our war dead between 1963-74, but seem to ignore the fact that the public together with the government is equally responsible for the immense negligence that has caused so much grief and possibly more deaths due to road accidents since 1974.
Surely a serious implementation of heavy fines, confiscation of licences and possible imprisonment for careless driving leading to deaths should be sufficient to raise much more awareness on the consequences of negligence.
I have known relatives who actually allow their 13-14 year old sons to drive their cars. The excuse is ”they have to learn sometime”. In one instance (about 10 years ago) it caused such a bad accident that it was a miracle the young boy escaped with his life. No amount of excuses can be given for such stupidity. Had this occurred in the UK the father would and should have gone to prison. Sadly in Cyprus they seem to simply get a warning.
THAT I’M AFRAID IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
Driving laws, government enforcement, ethics and a mindset of careless driving needs to change. Each and every person needs to ask themselves the question ”what if it was my child killed on the roads?”
I too have seen cars driving by young children, one around 7 years old. However, I think the biggest problems is the Police. It is no use having laws if they are not implemented.
Parking on double yellow lines is a serious problem and causes obstructions and people have to walk out between vehicles.
Not wearing Crash Helmets. I have even seen policemen riding motor bikes without a crash helmet
Children on Motorbikes without helmets and also whole families on motorbikes without helmets.
No give way signs or makings on roads approaching junctions and roundabouts.
Crossings placed on the exits to roundabouts so that drivers do not have space or time to stop.
Using Mobile phones whilst driving is a big big problem in TRNC. Why do people need to talk to someone whilst they are driving. Hands free equipment is available.
Not using indicators properly, one driver today was indicating he was turning left but I waited and he wasn’t he drove straight on. Had I exited the junction I would have crashed into him.
Overtaking when the driver is blinded by a vehicle or by a bend etc ahead
The need to always be in front – I often say S/he is in a hurry to die
Drivers do not know what the lanes are for. i.e. when turning right or left or going straight on, at a roundabout or at a junction.
Driving through red lights.
Not giving way to pedestrians – The pedestrians here have never been TAUGHT how to cross the roads and often cross without even looking to see if anything is coming up the road.
And that is just a few of the problems.
The only time you see a policemen is when they are out with the speed guns issuing fines or directing traffic when a junction has roadworks.
Thank you Catherine and you have had a lot to say but saying nothing happens is a bit of an overstatement if you click here you will see steps have been taken to train children in Road Safety.