Cyprus to toughen penalties for dangerous driving and illegal motorcycle races

The Cyprus police are considering tougher penalties for dangerous driving, including illegal street races, wheelies and their promotion on social media. They may take as a basis the strict Polish model, where drifting carries a three-month driving ban and a fine of up to 7,100 euros, while participating in races can result in up to five years in prison.

The reform was prompted by a rise in road fatalities: 19 people have died in crashes, including eight motorcyclists. The authorities are concerned that young people are massively copying dangerous stunts from the internet. However, the police acknowledge that bringing people to justice based solely on videos is legally extremely difficult because of problems identifying the authors.