The Incentive Plan for the Purchase of Protective Equipment for Motorcyclists was approved today by the Council of Ministers following a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works. The Plan covers the period 2022-2024, at a total cost of €1,050,000 for 3 years.
This Plan falls within the Strategic Plan for Road Safety for the period 2021-2030 and focuses on motorcyclists as the vulnerable users of the road network. With the use of additional protective equipment, it aims to improve the passive road safety of motorcyclists and reduce fatal collisions among this group of road users.
According to the data, in the period 2017-2021, 30% of the victims of road collisions were motorcyclists or moped riders. Specifically, in 2021, 14 of the 45 deaths recorded in Cyprus from road collisions (31.1% of total road fatalities) involved motorcyclists/motorcyclists or motorcycle passengers. In the same year, 98 serious injuries and 22 minor injuries involving motorcyclists/moped riders were recorded (47.34% and 29.33%, respectively, of total road traffic injuries).
It is noted that the percentage of licensed motorcyclists in Cyprus represents only 5% of all types of licensed vehicles, therefore road fatalities of motorcyclists/motorcyclists are about 14 times higher than those of other motor vehicles, taking into account the ratio of motorcycles/motorcycles compared to other motor vehicles, making this group of road users extremely vulnerable.
Evaluating the above data, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works has prepared the Protective Equipment Grant Scheme for Motorcyclists, which provides for a grant for the purchase of protective equipment, which will come into effect from the first half of 2022 until 2024.
For the year 2022, the purchase of protective equipment such as motorcyclists' body airbags will be subsidized.
For the year 2022, the purchase of protective equipment such as motorcyclists' body airbags will be subsidized. The decision is based on the results of research carried out by international organisations which showed that chest injuries account for 31% of road traffic injuries, spinal injuries for 20% and abdominal injuries for 15%. Studies show that motorcycle body airbags can prevent fatal chest and neck injuries at speeds of up to 50km/h and reduce the likelihood of death at speeds of up to 90km/h.
The subsidy amount for the purchase of protective equipment such as motorcycle body airbags will be €500 or the actual cost of purchase, whichever is lower. The amount of the subsidy will be calculated on the basis of the purchase price including VAT.
The beneficiaries of the Scheme will be Cypriots, Europeans and citizens of third countries, who reside permanently in the areas controlled by the Republic and hold a type A, A1 or A2 driving licence, are owners of a motorcycle type vehicle for which they hold an active registration licence and are registered with the Department of Road Transport.
Applications will be submitted electronically through a special platform and the evaluation of data and supporting documents will be carried out by authorised officials of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works. Applications will be considered on the basis of the criteria of the Scheme and if there is more interest than the predetermined number of applications, an electronic draw will be conducted using an application designed to conduct a fair draw, in a live broadcast.
Further details on the launch date of the Scheme, the application process and requirements will be announced in the near future.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr. For this year, the sponsorship will be for the purchase of a motorcycle body airbag, which has been proven to save lives and will be quite useful for motorcyclists. As the Minister said, this is just one of the actions covered by the Plan, with a total budget of €1,050 million for the period 2022-2024.
In addition, the Minister referred to the launch of the technical inspection for motorcycles, along the lines of the procedure followed for vehicles, which is expected to be implemented around the end of the year.
In addition, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works is promoting the updating of the Law on Driving Schools and Driving Instructors. He said that this is a law from the 1960s, which we will adapt to the new situation, so that the relevant controls can be carried out and the services can be upgraded.
In conclusion, Mr. Minister made special reference to the actions and initiatives of the Road Safety Council, the most recent of which concerns the creation of a special application where dangerous and problematic points will be recorded by the users of the road network and the competent authority, whether it is the Public Works, Municipalities or Communities, will be immediately informed so that they can proceed immediately to repair them.
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