Cyprus transport ministry warns of school bus route suspensions due to vandalism

The Cyprus Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works reported a rise in vandalism, rowdy behavior, and harassment on school buses during the 2026-2027 academic year. Officials noted that students have been throwing objects, physically or verbally harassing drivers, moving while buses are in motion, smoking, and damaging seats or safety equipment. The Ministry warned that routes may be temporarily suspended if safe travel cannot be guaranteed, noting that damaged buses often cannot be immediately replaced due to vehicle and driver shortages.

To ensure passenger safety, the Ministry has increased inspections of school buses beyond the requirements of national law and existing contracts. These inspections, conducted before and after the school year began, aim to ensure all vehicles meet strict safety standards. While the Ministry is enforcing regulations for transport providers, they emphasized that the safety of the service is also dependent on student conduct inside the vehicles.

The Ministry has issued an appeal to parents, guardians, and parent associations to actively intervene and ensure that students behave appropriately during their daily journeys. This comes as the authorities aim to prevent further disruption to the school transport network caused by the need for unscheduled repairs.