Chamber of Mechanical Engineers: 134 people died in road accidents in Northern Cyprus over 30 months

The Chamber of Mechanical Engineers of the Union of Turkish Cypriot Engineers and Architects stated that 134 people have died in road traffic accidents in Northern Cyprus over the past 30 months and called for urgent engineering measures.

The published traffic statistics report for 2015–2025 highlighted a deterioration in safety: the number of deaths in 30 months is more than double the 24 fatalities recorded in 2022.

The organization demanded the implementation of engineering-oriented reforms to achieve zero fatalities, including the immediate resolution of the Takata airbag crisis and a review of legislation regulating the import of used cars and the issuance of import permits.

The report called for the legalization of General Safety Regulations (GSR 2), calibration and certification of Radarsan EDS systems, commissioning of Gatso systems, and enabling on-the-move (WIM) measurement of vehicle classes and loads.

It also pointed to insufficient control of heavy trucks, particularly on the Eryulku–Değirmenlik–Çatalköy route, and the increase in the maximum import age of used vehicles from 5 to 15 years over the past five years, allowing cars without mandatory safety systems to enter the market.

The Chamber also proposed mandatory ECE R66 and R107 compliance certificates for imported vehicles, the establishment of a Road Safety Council under the Presidency composed of engineers, annual engineering inspections for school and public transport vehicles, and the modernization of technical inspection points under the General Directorate of Police.