Category: News

The EU Road Safety Conference will take place on 23 November 2026 at the Charlemagne Building in Brussels (Belgium), bringing together policymakers, researchers, employers, industry representatives, and civil society organisations to discuss the future of road safety in Europe.

Organised by the European Commission, the conference marks the midway point of the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021–2030, providing an opportunity to review progress towards the European objective of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 and advancing the long-term Vision Zero ambition.

The conference programme will address some of the most pressing challenges facing road safety today, including the use of health data to support evidence-based policymaking, the deployment of connected and automated vehicles, and the growing role of data-driven approaches in improving road safety performance across Europe.

A highlight of the event will be the 2026 Excellence in Road Safety Awards, during which the European Commission will recognise outstanding initiatives that have made significant contributions to improving road safety through innovation, collaboration, and good practice.

The conference offers an important opportunity for stakeholders from across Europe to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging policy priorities, and strengthen cooperation towards achieving safer roads for all.

For further information, please consult:

Conference programme

Registration (deadline: 31 October 2026)

2026 Excellence in Road Safety Awards – finalists

The Call for Proposals for the FERSI Exchange Programme Visits 2026-2 has officially opened.

The FERSI Exchange Programme supports short-term research visits between FERSI member institutes, with the aim of strengthening collaboration, promoting knowledge exchange, and fostering the development of joint research activities. Through the programme, researchers have the opportunity to visit another member institute to exchange expertise, learn about different methodologies, share project experiences, and establish new research partnerships.

Interested applicants can consult the Call for Proposals at the following link for detailed information on the application procedure and eligibility requirements.

Applications must be submitted to info@fersi.org and sevketoguzkagan.capkin@uniroma1.it no later than 15 September 2026, together with the completed application form, available at the following link.

The European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO) has published its 2026 Annual Statistical Report on Road Safety in the European Union, providing a comprehensive overview of road safety performance across Europe and reviewing progress towards the EU target of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

According to the latest validated data, around 19,400 people lost their lives on EU roads in 2025, a 3% decrease from 2024. While this confirms a positive long-term trend, the reduction remains well below the trajectory required to meet the 2030 target. Road crashes also continue to impose a major societal burden, with economic costs estimated at around 2% of EU GDP and approximately 100,000 people seriously injured every year.

The report identifies the main challenges that continue to hinder progress, including excessive speed, drink-driving, driver distraction, and the non-use of seat belts. It also highlights emerging issues such as the increasing use of personal mobility devices, demographic ageing, and the gradual deployment of automated vehicles. To accelerate progress towards Vision Zero, the European Commission calls for stronger action in five priority areas: safer infrastructure, improved enforcement of traffic rules, wider deployment of vehicle safety technologies, safer integration of new mobility solutions, and increased investment in road safety research.

Road safety progress varies widely by country. Between 2024 and 2025, there were remarkable decreases in Estonia (-38%) and Greece (-22%). Based on this preliminary and sometimes partial data, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland and Romania are currently on track to meet the 50% reduction target in road deaths by 2030. Despite this progress, Romania continues to have one of the highest fatality rates in the EU alongside Bulgaria and Croatia. Sweden and Denmark had the safest roads in 2025 as in previous years, with low fatality rates of 20 and 23 deaths per million inhabitants, respectively.

Although encouraging, these figures confirm that additional efforts will be needed if Europe is to remain on track towards its Vision Zero ambition by 2050.

The full report is available at this link

The scientific journal Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty (RaBDiM), published by the Road and Bridge Research Institute (IBDiM) in Poland, provides an important international platform for the dissemination of research on transport infrastructure, road safety, and mobility engineering.

Founded in 2002, the journal has evolved from a national publication into an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal. Since January 2025, it has been published exclusively in English, further strengthening its international visibility and facilitating the exchange of knowledge among researchers worldwide.

RaBDiM covers a broad range of topics related to the design, construction, maintenance, and safe operation of roads, bridges, airports, and other transport infrastructures. Particular attention is devoted to innovative engineering solutions, infrastructure management, transport systems, and road safety, making it a valuable publication venue for researchers working across the transport and mobility sectors. The journal RaBDiM has published numerous papers on these topics, including:

• Unmanned aerial vehicles in the road safety system

• Selected issues of designing cycling infrastructure in the aspect of road traffic safety

• Surrogate measure of safety from road inspection data – experimental test on Polish roads

• Road freight transport safety in Poland: regional accident patterns and infrastructure damage costs.

All submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous single-blind peer-review process, ensuring high scientific quality and compliance with international publication standards. The journal is currently indexed in major bibliographic databases in major bibliographic databases, including Web of Science (ESCI), Scopus, TRID, EBSCO, OpenAlex, BazTech, and the Polish Scientific Bibliography (PBN).

By promoting innovative scientific contributions and international collaboration, the journal represents a valuable resource for the transport research community and supports the advancement of safer, smarter, and more resilient transport infrastructure—objectives that closely align with FERSI’s mission of fostering excellence in road safety research and knowledge exchange across Europe.

Researchers working in the fields of road safety, transport infrastructure, and sustainable mobility are encouraged to explore the journal and consider it as a valuable dissemination channel for their latest scientific contributions. The most recent issue (Vol. 25, No. 2), published in June 2026, further reflects the journal’s commitment to disseminating high-quality research on transport infrastructure and mobility.

Submission guidelines and manuscript submission are available through the Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty journal website at www.rabdim.pl.

On 24 June 2026, the Italian Automobile Club (ACI), through the Filippo Caracciolo Foundation, organised the research meeting “Sustainable Mobility and Urban Road Safety: New Challenges for Public Policies” in Rome.

The event brought together policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss the implications of the ongoing mobility transition on urban road safety, with particular attention to the comparative safety performance of electric, hybrid, and internal combustion engine vehicles.

A central element of the meeting was the presentation of the study “Comparative Analysis of Urban Road Accident Risk: A Comparison between Electric, Hybrid and Internal Combustion Vehicles”, which examined accident risk profiles through an integrated analysis of crash and vehicle fleet data.

Among the invited speakers were Luca Persia (FERSI President) and Davide Shingo Usami (CTL, Italy) who contributed to the panel discussion alongside representatives from ACI, ISTAT, Motus-E, Roma Capitale, the insurance sector, and academia. The debate explored key issues related to technological innovation, interactions with vulnerable road users, the role of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and the effectiveness of infrastructure measures in improving urban safety.

The event provided an important opportunity to exchange evidence-based perspectives on the challenges and opportunities arising from the transition towards more sustainable mobility systems, reinforcing the importance of research-informed policies to improve road safety across Europe.

On 23 June 2026, the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) published its 20th Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) Annual Report, providing an overview of road safety trends across 31 European countries and assessing progress towards the EU target of halving road deaths by 2030.

The report reveals that road safety progress in Europe remains uneven. While some countries are on track to achieve the 2030 target, most are falling behind. Since 2019, road deaths in the European Union have decreased by 15%, well below the 31% reduction required at this stage to remain on course. In 2025 alone, road deaths fell by only 2%, leaving the EU significantly behind its planned trajectory.

The report highlights notable achievements in several countries. Poland recorded the largest reduction in road deaths since 2019 (-43%), while Belgium (-31%) and Denmark (-32%) are among the countries currently on track to meet the 2030 target. Norway and Sweden remain the safest countries in Europe, with 19 road deaths per million inhabitants, compared to the EU average of 43.

Beyond fatalities, the report underlines the persistent challenge of serious road injuries, which continue to affect more than 100,000 people annually across the EU. ETSC also warns against proposals that could weaken existing vehicle safety standards and calls for stronger implementation of the Safe System approach, enhanced enforcement measures, improved data collection, and continued investment in road safety.

The full report is available at this link.

The European Road Safety Charter (ERSC) has launched the Call for Applications for the Excellence in Road Safety Awards 2026, recognising and celebrating outstanding initiatives that contribute to improving road safety across Europe. The awards will be presented during the EU Road Safety Conference, scheduled to take place on 23 November 2026 at the Charlemagne Building in Brussels.

The initiative aims to highlight successful actions developed by Charter members and promote the exchange of good practices across the European road safety community. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their initiative addressed a specific road safety challenge and achieved measurable results.

Applications are invited in five categories:

• At Work – initiatives improving road safety for employees, company fleets, and work-related travel;
• Education – projects raising awareness and developing road safety skills;
• Technology – innovative technological solutions supporting safer mobility;
• Urban – measures making cities and towns safer for all road users;
• Vulnerable Road Users – actions protecting cyclists, pedestrians, users of personal mobility devices, and other vulnerable groups.

The application deadline has been extended to 24 June 2026 (12:00 CET).

Participation is open to members of the European Road Safety Charter. Organisations not yet registered can join the Charter before submitting their application.

For further information on eligibility, application procedures, and submission guidance, please consult the European Road Safety Charter website.

During the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2026 in Budapest (18-21 May 2026), FERSI presented the conference paper “Bicycle Safety in Europe: Toward Evidence-Based Policy Recommendations”, developed by the FERSI Bicycle Safety Working Group in collaboration with researchers from several European institutions. The paper was authored by Leonid Ljubotina, Marko Ševrović, Andrea Uhr, Carlos Roque, Abderrahmane Boubezoul, Veronika Zuser, Wojciech Bańkowski, Sara Nygårdhs, Mette Møller, Veronika Valentová, Nóra Krizsik and Markus Schumacher.

The paper provides an updated overview of cycling safety trends across Europe, analysing cyclist fatalities, serious injuries, and the main risk factors affecting vulnerable road users. While cycling continues to grow as a sustainable and healthy mode of transport, the research highlights that safety improvements for cyclists remain uneven across European countries, with older adults and users of e-bikes and cargo bikes representing emerging areas of concern.

The study identifies key challenges related to infrastructure gaps, risky behaviours, fragmented governance, and limitations in road safety data collection. In response, the authors propose a series of evidence-based policy recommendations, including safer cycling infrastructure, harmonised regulations, improved education and enforcement measures, and better integrated data systems.

The contribution reflects FERSI’s ongoing commitment to supporting research-driven road safety policies and promoting safer, more sustainable mobility systems across Europe.

On 21 April 2026, the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) published a new PIN Flash 50 report titled “Improving the safety of cycling in Europe”. This marks the organisation’s first in-depth analysis of cycling safety in six years.

Cycling plays an increasingly important role in Europe’s transport systems. It contributes to healthier populations, more liveable cities, and progress towards climate and environmental goals. Across Europe, governments are encouraging a shift from private car use to more sustainable modes of transport, including walking, cycling, and public transport. In this context, cycling has become a key component of policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, making more efficient use of land, and addressing congestion in urban areas.

The report analyses recent trends in cyclist fatalities and serious injuries across Europe and identifies the main risk factors affecting cyclists on European roads. It also examines policies and measures that can improve cycling safety while supporting the continued growth of cycling as a safe, healthy, and sustainable mode of transport.

The full report is available at this link.

The FERSI General Assembly took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 21–22 April 2026, hosted by the Bulgarian State Agency for Road Safety (SARS). The meeting brought together members to discuss organisational matters, exchange research insights, and define future strategic directions.

The Assembly opened with an overview of the road safety situation in Bulgaria, highlighting ongoing national efforts to improve safety performance. Key administrative and financial updates confirmed a stable financial position, with a strong cash balance and limited risk. Members also discussed governance aspects and opportunities to further strengthen the structure and functioning of the association.

A central component of the meeting was the exchange of ongoing research activities and projects among members. Presentations covered a wide range of topics, including innovative traffic orchestration and automation (CARMONY – CERTH), traffic safety culture and behavioural approaches (TRUST – KFV), enforcement strategies and repeat offending (All for Zero – VIAS), and infrastructure safety and human factors research (TØI, BASt, SWOV).

A dedicated session also focused on the role of infrastructure in enabling safe automated mobility (BFU), alongside the presentation of survey results on financial sanctions for traffic offences (VIAS). Updates were also shared on FERSI Working Groups, ARSANet activities, and recent surveys conducted across member countries, providing valuable insights into road safety trends and research priorities at European level.

The second day focused on future initiatives, including FERSI’s involvement in upcoming European research collaborations, new funding opportunities, the potential organisation of a FERSI Conference in 2027–2028, and the renewal of FERSI’s website to enhance communication and visibility. The programme concluded with a round table involving all participants, fostering open discussion and exchange among members.

The General Assembly in Sofia reaffirmed FERSI’s commitment to strengthening cooperation, promoting high-quality research, and supporting evidence-based road safety policies across Europe.