The Transport Ministry has launched a public consultation on a landmark bill that would introduce AI-powered cameras to automatically ticket drivers for using mobile phones or failing to wear seatbelts. Currently, existing traffic enforcement systems in Cyprus can only capture these violations if the driver is simultaneously speeding or running a red light. The proposed legislation, developed in collaboration with the Cyprus Police, aims to install smart cameras at key urban locations, with the first unit scheduled for installation on Grivas Digenis Avenue in Nicosia once the bill is enacted.
Under the new framework, advanced fixed cameras will independently analyze images to detect illegal phone use, missing seatbelts, and speeding. This technological shift represents a major upgrade from the current fleet of fixed and mobile cameras, which operate on legacy software incapable of processing AI-driven visual data. The ministry clarified that the new rules will apply solely to the newly deployed AI systems, leaving existing infrastructure unchanged. This targeted approach allows authorities to focus on highly dangerous distracted driving behaviors without requiring a primary traffic infraction to trigger an investigation.
The bill explicitly amends the 2001 law governing photographic detection devices for traffic offences by incorporating two specific violations. The first targets the illegal use of mobile phones or other communication devices while driving, aligning with Regulation 58(14)(a) of the 1984 Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations. The second addresses the failure to wear a seatbelt, as outlined in articles 14, 15, and 15A of the 1986 Road Safety Law. Once operational, these cameras will only trigger when a vehicle breaks a light beam or signal and the driver is found committing one of these specific offences.
This initiative is expected to significantly enhance road safety across Cyprus by deterring common but often overlooked driving habits. For local motorists, the transition means a stricter enforcement environment where distracted driving is treated with the same severity as speeding. The introduction of these smart systems marks a critical step forward in the island's ongoing efforts to modernize traffic management and protect road users on busy urban thoroughfares.