Tachographs play a key role in improving road safety by reducing fatigue and stress levels of professional drivers of heavy vehicles, Justice Minister Anna Procopiou said on Wednesday.
The implementation of a relevant law that provides for the use of tachographs, a device recording driving times and rest periods taken by the heavy vehicle driver, will help guarantee road safety, noted the justice minister.
“New applications for monitoring and evaluating driving give incentives to users to improve their driving behaviour and evolve the role of the driver in modern times.
“Tachographs play a very important role in monitoring compliance by professional drivers, in particular with the rules governing driving time and rest periods,” Procopiou said.
She explained that tachographs, used by truck and bus drivers, contribute to improving road safety, drivers working conditions and fair competition between road transport undertakings. They also improve the occupational health of drivers, since appropriate rest conditions reduce driver stress and fatigue and reduce the risk of road traffic collisions by controlling speed.
Competent officials have repeatedly called for better checks on the use of tachographs by professional drivers in the past few years, warning that some drivers’ certificates are provided without a proper check being carried out.
The minister was speaking at a Road Safety Awareness through the use of tachographs information event held at the Bank of Cyprus’ head offices in Nicosia. The event was attended by representatives of bus and truck drivers.
There, she also declared that Cyprus aspires to completely eliminate fatal traffic accidents.
“In Cyprus, despite the significant reduction in fatal road collisions, the numbers remain high and are of particular concern and great concern to us.
“As a state we are aiming for Vision Zero, zero casualties on our streets,” she said.
Achieving this goal requires collective and methodical work, on an ongoing basis, at all levels, from family, school and society at large, the justice minister said.
To this end, a series of actions are taking place by the state and social partners including the operation of the driver training school and the extension of the traffic light system. Public awareness campaigns are also being held as well as information campaigns at schools for children of all ages and experiental workshops.
To help eliminate road fatalities, the state has appointed new road safety ambassadors.
Safe road behaviour is “everyone’s responsibility and driving should go hand in hand with road safety,” the justice minister said, urging everyone to strictly observe the basic rules of the road and drive responsibly.
The road safety event was co-organised by the police, the European organisation Roadpol and Support Cy of the Bank of Cyprus.
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