Ministry of Transport warns of school bus service suspensions due to vandalism

The Cyprus Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works has warned that school bus routes may be temporarily suspended due to a rise in vandalism, physical harassment of drivers, and dangerous behavior by students during the 2026-2027 school year. Incidents reported include students throwing objects at drivers, moving around moving vehicles, smoking, and destroying bus seats and safety equipment. Andreas Nikiforou, head of the Public Passenger Transport Sector, confirmed that a specific route serving villages in the Larnaca district was recently suspended after initial warnings to students were ignored, leading to escalated damage.

The Ministry, which has intensified inspections for vehicle safety, emphasized that route suspensions are necessary when safety cannot be guaranteed for the majority of students. While the Ministry is working with Parent Associations and using onboard camera footage to identify the culprits, officials noted that they cannot directly supervise student behavior. Authorities intend to exclude specific identified troublemakers from future transport to ensure the safety of other passengers. The Ministry has issued a formal appeal to parents and guardians to actively monitor their children's conduct to prevent further service disruptions.