Nicosia, Cyprus. The government plans to take responsibility for removing vehicles involved in serious traffic accidents under a rapid response system, Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said on Tuesday. Insurance companies would reimburse the state after roads have been cleared.
Nestor plan
The measure is part of the proposed Nestor plan, developed after an overturned lorry caused a seven-hour closure of the Nicosia-Limassol highway last month.
Fitiris told Politis radio that planning for the scheme was expected to be completed this week. A live exercise involving cranes and drones is scheduled for August before the system is introduced.
State coordination
Under the proposed system, the state would coordinate the removal of damaged vehicles, replacing the current process in which recovery can be delayed while insurance companies arrange towing services.
“In practice, this means that the road will be opened as soon as possible and they will not wait for the insurance companies to decide which crane to bring,” Fitiris said.
Authorities would fully document accident scenes before vehicles are moved, using photographs, video recordings and, where necessary, drones. The material would preserve evidence for police investigations and insurance claims.
Heavy vehicles and costs
The scheme would also cover lorries and trucks, with the state arranging specialist cranes where necessary to remove overturned heavy goods vehicles and other large vehicles from roads.
Fitiris said the government would initially cover recovery costs before seeking reimbursement from insurance companies.
“The state will proceed with the removal of the vehicles and then, based on the photographs and other details of the accident, will claim the relevant costs from the insurance companies,” he said.
The proposals build on a rapid response framework announced after the July highway disruption, under which emergency teams would be established in every district involving police, the fire brigade and private contractors.
