Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades is moving to transfer specific powers to the Chief of Police, allowing officers to immediately suspend the driving licences of dangerous drivers during roadside checks.
According to information from Politis, the minister is expected to send a letter in the coming days formally delegating these powers. The decision was recently taken by the Road Safety Council, which is chaired by Vafeades.
Immediate licence suspension during checks
Under the new arrangement, traffic police officers will be able to remove a driving licence on the spot from drivers found to be under the influence of alcohol or narcotic substances.
In the case of drivers found intoxicated, both the level of alcohol in the body and the frequency of the offence will be taken into account when deciding whether to suspend the licence.
Current procedure
Under the current system, when police identify a driver operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may issue an on-the-spot fine or refer the driver to court.
At the same time, the Road Transport Department (RTD) is notified so that the driver’s licence can be suspended. The suspension remains in effect until the driver submits a medical certificate confirming that their health condition allows them to drive. Drivers are informed of the suspension and their obligation to appear before a medical board of the Ministry of Health through a registered letter.
However, most drivers do not collect the double-registered letter, either because they know its contents or assume it concerns a traffic camera fine. As a result, RTD inspectors often have to locate the drivers and deliver the letter in person. In cases where this fails, police assistance is required to identify them.
New procedure approved
The new process approved by the Road Safety Council aims to simplify and accelerate the procedure. When dangerous drivers are identified during traffic checks in the two categories mentioned above, their driving licence will be suspended immediately. Police officers will also deliver a letter instructing them to appear before a medical board, which will make the final decision.
If the medical board concludes that the driver’s health condition permits driving, the licence will be reinstated. Under existing legislation, the board may also decide to reinstate the licence while requiring the driver to undergo a further medical examination after a specific period. If the driver fails to attend the reassessment, the licence will be suspended again.
Warning over electronic door handles in vehicles
Recent incidents worldwide involving passengers trapped in vehicles equipped with electrically operated flush door handles have raised safety concerns. In cases where the vehicle’s power supply fails following a collision or fire, occupants may be unable to exit the vehicle, creating a serious safety risk, particularly if they are injured or a fire breaks out. The Road Transport Department issued an announcement on Monday informing vehicle owners equipped with such systems about the potential risks.
According to the announcement, international road safety bodies have recorded cases where electronically controlled or fully integrated “hidden” door handles failed to function properly in emergency situations such as road collisions or fires. In some incidents, a drop in battery voltage caused the external handles to remain inactive in their closed position.
European safety organisations have also indicated that current standards do not sufficiently guarantee that electronically controlled doors can be opened after an accident or power failure, increasing the risk of passengers becoming trapped inside a vehicle.
Recommendations from the Road Transport Department
Vehicle owners equipped with such door handles are advised to:
- Consult the vehicle’s owner’s manual to understand how to use the manual emergency release mechanism and how doors can be opened when there is no electrical power.
- Identify where manual release mechanisms are located for both the front and rear doors.
- Inform all regular passengers of the vehicle about how the emergency release system works.
- Regularly check the condition of the battery, as the proper functioning of electronic handles depends on it.
- Check whether the vehicle is subject to a recall through the manufacturer’s official website or announcements on the EU Safety Gate platform.
- Avoid using the vehicle if a malfunction of the door handles occurs until it has been inspected and repaired.
For further information or to report incidents, citizens may contact the Road Transport Department at recalls@rtd.mcw.gov.cy.
Vehicle road tax deadline
According to the Road Transport Department, the deadline for renewing vehicle road tax licences for 2026 is Wednesday, 11 March 2026, at midnight.
Official data show that as of last Sunday, road tax licences had been renewed for 677,133 vehicles. For comparison, by the corresponding date in 2025 (8 March), 680,670 vehicles had renewed their licences.
Renewals carried out from Thursday onwards will incur an additional charge consisting of €10 plus an amount equal to 10% of the value of the licence for the current year.