In 2023, Drunk Drivers Claimed the Lives of 12 People in Northern Cyprus

In 2023, due to the fault of drunk drivers, 12 fatal accidents occurred in Northern Cyprus. The country has proposed implementing deterrent punishments for excessively intoxicated motorists.

This initiative was put forward by the President of the Association for the Prevention of Traffic Accidents (TKÖD) and a member of the Traffic and Transportation Services Commission, Mehmet Zeki Avdji.

According to the public figure, the number of fatal accidents caused by drunk drivers is increasing in the country every year. In 2021, 7 such accidents were registered; in 2022, 8 accidents ended fatally, and in 2023, their number rose to 12.

• Since driving under the influence laws are not a deterrent, such crimes are becoming increasingly dangerous, and the number of victims is growing every year, - the expert believes.

It is also noted that recently there has been a significant increase in the alcohol content percentage in the blood of intoxicated drivers. Fatal accidents have been recorded where the perpetrator exceeded the permissible blood alcohol level by 10 times or more.

• As a first step towards the immediate prevention of drunk driving, traffic laws should start with deterrent punishments for excessively drunk drivers, - summarized Mehmet Zeki Avdji.

Specifically, it is proposed to confiscate driving licenses for six months in cases of high blood alcohol content.

Recall that last year, a total of 81 people died in traffic accidents on the island of Cyprus. 48 fatal accidents occurred in Northern Cyprus, and 33 people died on the roads of the Republic of Cyprus.

For the northern part of the island, 2023 became a record year for the number of people killed on the country's roads in the last five years.

In 2018, 24 people died in traffic accidents; in 2019 - 32, in 2020 - 28, in 2021 - 35, and in 2022 - 24.