Engineers call for urgent measures to improve road safety in Northern Cyprus

The Union of Mechanical Engineers (Makine Mühendisleri Odası), supported by the Union of Cypriot Turkish Engineers and Architects (KTMMOB), has urged the authorities to take immediate action to reduce the number of traffic accidents and fatalities on the roads of Northern Cyprus. The appeal followed the publication of their report on road accident statistics for the period from 2015 to 2025, which revealed that in the past 30 months, 134 people have died on the roads — more than double the number in 2022, when 24 fatalities were recorded.

The report notes that the road safety situation continues to deteriorate, with the increase in accidents and deaths linked to systemic and technical problems. Representatives of the Union stressed the need for an urgent engineering reform aimed at achieving the “zero deaths” target on the roads. Key priorities include improving road infrastructure quality, raising vehicle standards, and optimizing traffic management.

The engineers proposed a set of measures, including the mandatory implementation of the “General Safety Regulation” (GSR 2), the installation of electronic speed control systems (such as GATSO radars), and the use of Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) systems to monitor axle loads and overall vehicle mass.

Special attention was given to the problem of used car imports. According to the report, the permitted age of imported vehicles has increased from 5 to 15 years, resulting in more cars on the roads lacking modern safety systems such as airbags, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), and electronic stability programs (ESP). Experts believe this directly contributes to the rise in serious traffic accidents.

The Union also highlighted the insufficient control over heavy vehicles, especially on the Erülkü – Değirmenlik – Çatalköy route, where truck overloading poses a serious safety risk. Engineers emphasized that vehicles with defective or modified safety systems must be strictly regulated and allowed to operate only after official manufacturer approval.

Other recommendations include implementing an average speed control system, integrating WIM weighing stations with police and municipal databases, mandating certification of imported vehicles according to European safety standards (ECE R66, R107), and establishing a Road Safety Council under the President with the participation of engineers. The proposal also calls for mandatory technical inspections of school buses and public transport at least twice a year and for upgrading inspection stations with better equipment and more technical personnel.

In conclusion, the Union stressed that the current road situation is the result of years of lacking a systemic approach and insufficient oversight. In their view, without immediate engineering and legislative measures, the risks of further increases in accidents and fatalities will remain extremely high.