Parliament raises licence suspension threshold to 16 penalty points

Parliament on Thursday amended a law to raise the penalty points threshold required for a temporary driving licence suspension from 12 to 16.

The new regulations will take effect on February 1, 2025.

The amendment received support from 40 MPs, with only independent MP Alexandra Attalides voting against it.

Diko MP Chrysanthos Savvides, who submitted the proposal, argued that the change is necessary due to the increased and varied traffic enforcement methods now in place, which have led to the rapid accumulation of penalty points on drivers’ licences.

He cited the traffic camera system as a particular source of frustration among drivers, adding that the amendment would help drivers avoid legal consequences and maintain their licences, reducing the potential social impact of suspensions.

Savvides also pointed out that when the penalty points system was initially introduced, measures like alcohol and drug testing were not yet implemented, resulting in a slower accumulation of points.

Attalides, justifying her opposition, argued that if a transitional period were included to allow drivers time to adjust, she could have supported the change.

“However, given the current high rates of traffic fatalities and frequent speeding violations, parliament should not send a lenient message on road safety,” she said.