NICOSIA – Cyprus’ roads are especially deadly for elderly pedestrians crossing them, the island country having the highest number killed – a third of all of the fatalities – said a European transport safety council (ETSC) report.

That was during a 3-year period from 2020-22, said The Cyprus Mail, largely encompassing COVID-19 pandemic years when there were business and home lockdowns and slowdowns and fewer people driving.

In the past decade, Cyprus has seen a decrease in elderly fatalities in line with the average 3 percent annual decrease for the EU. Those aged over 65 are considered elderly in the report, the news site said.

The decline is said to be due to general measures to improve road safety which have benefited the elderly as well. Across the EU in 2021, more than 5,400 elderly died in traffic accidents.

The percentage of traffic accident deaths among the elderly compared to their deaths from all causes is much lower than that for the rest of the population, although not for pedestrians.

The average percentage in the EU for the elderly dying in road accidents is 0.14 percent while for the rest of the population it stands at 2 percent. Cyprus has the highest relative percentage of elderly road fatalities, 0.22 percent, the site said.