Between 2010 and 2014 271 people died and more than 2.500 were seriously injured in Cyprus in traffic-related accidents in Cyprus, Reaction, an NGO concerned with road safety, announced on Wednesday.

According to data released today by Reaction, the District of Nicosia ranked first with a death toll of 83.

Speaking at a press conference, Reaction President Marios Stavrou said that 76 individuals or 28% of the dead were young people under the age of 25, while most deadly traffic accidents happened on a Friday and a Sunday. Half of them occur between 8 pm and 8 am.

Stavrou said Police staff had to be reinforced, and the House of Representatives needed to support all efforts to help reduce road accidents.

He noted that Reaction`s goal during the holiday season was to have zero death toll on the roads, and pledged to do everything towards this goal.

“From today, December 23, until January 7, we will do everything possible in order to have zero deadly accidents,” Stavrou has said.

He further announced that Reaction will pay a visit to injured people in the hospitals of Nicosia and Limassol, on December 29 and 30, while on January 15, the 5th National Meeting of Road Safety Bodies will take place.

Addressing the press conference, Education Minister Costas Kadis said that apart from police checks, a more responsible training is required for all citizens from an early age.

Education is an important field to further preventive policies aiming at road safety, Kadis said and referred to special programs that are being implemented.

Health Minister Giorgos Pamboridis also addressed the event through a representative and noted that Cyprus has a high traffic-related death toll with an upward trend. “We need to increase efforts to prevent and reduce traffic accidents, and everyone must do their bit, starting with the family,” Pamboridis noted.