Nicosia, Cyprus. Drivers involved in minor car accidents will be required to move their vehicles from the scene under amended legislation, with penalties of up to €3,000 and possible imprisonment for those who fail to comply, police said on Tuesday.
New rules on minor collisions
The amended legislation, published in the official gazette on Tuesday, is intended to ease congestion caused by collisions that do not result in serious injuries.
Under the revised framework, drivers must move their vehicle off the road to the nearest suitable location to avoid obstructing traffic, provided there are no obvious physical injuries, police intervention is not required and the vehicles can be moved without towing or causing additional damage.
Steps required before moving vehicles
The law also requires drivers to complete several actions before relocating their vehicles. These include immediately informing their insurance company, exchanging personal and insurance details with the other parties involved and taking photographs of the crash.
The photographs must show the final position of the vehicles after the collision, vehicle registration numbers, any visible damage and the surrounding area. Drivers must also exchange the photographs and forward them to a person designated by their insurer.
Police said compliance with these requirements is mandatory and warned that failure to carry out the prescribed actions constitutes an offence.
Those convicted of failing to meet their obligations under the legislation face a fine of up to €1,000. The law also targets individuals who attempt to influence a driver’s actions following a collision.