Cyprus government officials informed MPs that installing countdown timers at traffic lights is incompatible with planned upgrades to a smart traffic camera system. The €7 million system, set to be installed in Nicosia and Limassol initially, uses artificial intelligence to adjust green light intervals in real time and enforce traffic laws more dynamically. A public tender for the system is expected to be awarded by September.

MPs from various parties expressed frustration, questioning the exclusion of countdown timers which they argue help drivers avoid red light fines. Critics also raised concerns about the system's effectiveness in improving road safety, with some calling it a "tax collection mechanism." Road fatalities have risen nearly 10% in 2025, despite overall reductions since 2019. Questions remain whether countdown timers can be integrated by the contract’s end in 2027.