TDP Traffic Committee Proposes Solutions for Road Safety

According to a statement from the TDP Press Office, the committee emphasized the need for education, infrastructure improvements, and stricter traffic regulations to prevent traffic accidents.

The committee noted that preventing accidents requires a focus on education, infrastructure upgrades, and tighter traffic regulations. It also argued that depoliticizing the Traffic Department is a crucial step toward developing an effective traffic policy.

The committee pointed out that traffic accidents should not be attributed solely to driver errors, citing issues such as deficiencies in vehicle inspections, inadequate traffic signs, and the process of converting foreign driver's licenses to North Cyprus licenses as factors that also need attention in preventing accidents.

The committee further proposed that the most suitable traffic model for Northern Cyprus, according to European Union (EU) experts, is the "UK Highway Code" system used in the south of Cyprus. They called for the effective implementation of this system.

Additionally, the committee suggested adding traffic education to the secondary school curriculum and proposed that students who pass a traffic rules exam upon high school graduation should be exempt from the first stage of the driving test.

Referring to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the committee pointed out that approximately 1.3 million people worldwide lost their lives in traffic collisions in 2019. It highlighted that 93% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. According to WHO predictions, traffic accidents are expected to become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2030, and the seventh leading cause according to the National Library of Medicine (NIC).