Government confirmed on Monday that Cyprus’ long-awaited driver rehabilitation school is finally becoming a reality, with plans to open in Nicosia and Limassol this September. Seven years after the House approved its creation, the programme was meant to improve road safety by educating traffic offenders, but repeated delays left reckless drivers with no option but fines and suspensions. Now, with the tender process nearing completion, officials say the long-overdue initiative is finally moving forward.
The idea was to educate drivers before they become repeat offenders. Back in May 2018, the House passed legislation to establish the school, but progress stalled. No tenders were issued, no facilities were planned, and the initiative was quietly shelved. Meanwhile, road safety remained a concern, with authorities relying on increased fines, penalty points, and speed cameras to deter dangerous driving. Transport committee chairman Marinos Mousiouttas, argues that the school could have prevented many suspensions. He pointed out that if the system had been in place earlier, the House might not have needed to raise the penalty point limit from 12 to 16, a controversial decision made last year. The increase was introduced as traffic cameras caught more offenders, pushing many drivers toward losing their licences.
After years of inaction, the ministry of justice is now pushing ahead with urgency. The tender process is in its final stage, with bids closing on March 28 after a two-week extension. The government expects to award the contract by June, and unless there are legal appeals, the school should be up and running three months later. The programme will cater to both drivers who are ordered by the courts to attend and those who choose to enrol voluntarily to reduce their penalty points. Those in the first category will be required to complete the training at no cost, while voluntary participants will have to cover the cost themselves.
Despite the delays, the project now carries a hefty price tag. The estimated cost of €890,000 is expected to exceed €1 million with VAT, with €400,000 already budgeted for 2025. The selected private provider will be responsible for running the programme, which will include theoretical and practical training tailored to different types of traffic offences.
Participants will be assessed through exams and practical evaluations, and successful completion will be recorded in police and government databases. The school’s curriculum will focus on changing driver behaviour, but seven years of inaction have already raised doubts about its effectiveness.
Many drivers have already lost their licences under the old system, and critics argue that without strict enforcement, some may not take the training seriously. Others, however, see this as a long-overdue step toward a smarter, more effective approach to traffic safety. Now that the government has finally taken action, the success of the initiative will depend on whether it truly changes driver behaviour, or simply becomes another bureaucratic requirement.
