The European Road Safety Charter of the European Commission recently published an article titled “Road infrastructure: A foundation for safer roads“, highlighting the critical role of road infrastructure in achieving safer roads. Road design can either support safe behavior or create danger. Many roads encourage high speeds without adequate protection, increasing crash severity. Undivided roads raise head‑on collision risks, unsafe roadsides worsen run‑off crashes, and missing footpaths or crossings leave vulnerable users exposed. To create self-explaining and forgiving roads, six core design principles guide safer infrastructure: provide orientation by making the road environment easy to read and anticipate; attract attention through clear design and signs highlighting hazards; promote standardization with consistent layouts that help users recognize situations; support the detection of potential conflicts through good visibility and guidance at critical points; improve clarity with visible and easy to interpret signs and markings and provide passive safety through forgiving roadsides and designs that reduce injury severity. 

A Paper titled “Traffic safety culture within the safe system: developing a common definition of traffic safety culture” authored by Tor-Olav Nævestad, Uta Meesmann, Henriette Wallén Warner, Susanne Kaiser, Ingeborg S. Hesjevoll, Vibeke Milch, Sonja Forward, Mathias De Roeck, Michael Schachner, Dimitris Nikolaou, Gunilla Björklund, Alexandra Laiou, Hanna Wennberg, Eva Aigner-Breuss and Anita Eichhorn was recently published in Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. This study developed the following definition of traffic safety culture, based on a three-step refinement approach, combining literature reviews, Delphi studies and focus group discussions: “Traffic safety culture encompasses shared values, beliefs, attitudes, norms, and patterns of behaviours that shape how traffic safety is understood and enacted within a meaningfully defined group of actors in the transport system. This meaningfully defined group of actors can refer to road users, organizations, authorities, or other actors within the transport system.” 

Future Transportation Journal has recently launched the Special Issue titled: “New Challenges in Road Safety Infrastructure Management” aiming to address emerging challenges and propose innovative solutions for enhancing the safety, resilience, and performance of road infrastructure systems. It provides an opportunity to present the latest scientific advances in infrastructure safety assessment, risk analysis, proactive safety management, connected infrastructure, artificial intelligence applications, digital twins, and data-driven decision-support tools for road safety infrastructure management. The manuscript submission deadline is until 28 February 2027. Guest editors of this special issue from NTUA are: Dr. Stergios Mavromatis, Prof. Dr. George Yannis.

The Horizon Europe research project CulturalRoad has recently released the CulturalRoad 4th Newsletter, which provides information on the latest outcomes of the EU-funded CulturalRoad Project aiming to develop innovative methodologies to ensure the equitable deployment of Cooperative, Connected, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) services. This version of the Newsletter highlights that the project’s partners have shared their achievements, results and ongoing research at several key events, including the RTR Conference, Hannover Messe, ITS European Congress and TRA 2026, and hosted two webinars, one with the sister project Diversify-CCAM focusing on inclusive automated mobility, and a second one with representatives from the project’s five demonstration sites discussing their experience engaging local communities. Furthermore, it introduces new blog posts from the demonstration sites, where partners share more on the co-creation activities and stakeholder workshops.

A Paper titled “Social values behind the wheel: How does social value orientation shape speeding behaviour across drivers in Europe?” authored by Amir Hossein Kalantari, Amna Chaudhry, Mark Burke, Ana María Pérez-Zuriaga, Apostolos Ziakopoulos, Eleonora Papadimitriou, Shanna Lucchesi and Amir Pooyan Afghari was recently published in Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour, The Study examined how Social Value Orientation (SVO), a personality trait capturing tendencies toward altruism, cooperation or competitiveness, is associated with drivers’ stated propensity to speed across three European urban contexts, the West Midlands (UK), Athens and Valencia, using Random-Parameters Ordered Probit models with heterogeneity in the means. Results show that road design, traffic density and speed enforcement are associated with self-reported speeding, but these associations vary substantially across contexts and drivers. Furthermore, in the West Midlands, a stronger prosocial orientation weakened the links between behavioral risk constructs and stated speeding, while in Athens the same trait mainly strengthened the association between speeding tendencies and speeding propensity. The study suggests that speed-management strategies may be more effective when physical design and enforcement are paired with communication that presents speed limits as credible, locally relevant and clearly connected to the safety of other road users.

A paper titled Physical Fitness and Highway Driving Performance: Evidence from a Driving Simulator Study of Young Drivers authored by Marios Sekadakis, Theofanis Mitsis, Thodoris Garefalakis and George Yannis has been published in Theoretical and Applied Ergonomics. This Paper investigates the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and driving behaviour in a highway environment using a driving simulator, with 46 young drivers aged 19 to 27 classified into high-fitness and low-fitness groups based on estimated maximum oxygen consumption, and each participant completing three simulated highway driving scenarios under varying traffic and lighting conditions. The findings suggest that higher physical fitness is associated with greater adaptability in driving behaviour, reflected in increased headway distance variability and slightly higher driving speeds, while high-fitness drivers also exhibited longer time to collision, suggesting improved anticipation and more effective management of traffic conditions. Moreover, environmental factors, particularly traffic volume and lighting conditions, remained the dominant influences on driving behaviour overall. Overall, the Study highlights the importance of considering health-related factors in road safety research and offers insights for developing preventive strategies targeting young drivers.

A paper titled Crash risk factors in the evolution from conventional to fully automated vehicles in urban environments authored by Maria Oikonomou and George Yannis has been published in Case Studies on Transport Policy. This Paper investigates the evolution of crash risk in urban road networks as the market penetration of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) increases across different levels of automation, using microscopic traffic simulations in a dense metropolitan area of Athens, Greece. The Study integrates conventional vehicles, partially automated (SAE Level 2-3), fully automated (SAE Level 4-5) and aggressively behaving AVs across 15 progressive deployment scenarios, employing an XGBoost machine learning model combined with SHAP explainability to identify the most influential traffic and behavioural features associated with crash risk. The findings suggest that automation influences crash risk in a way that is neither uniform nor isolated, with fully automated vehicles reducing crash risk as their share grows, while partially automated vehicles slightly increase it in mixed-traffic conditions. Aggressively behaving AVs were found to have minimal impact, mostly at high penetration rates, while traffic density, stop sign-controlled sections and queue length emerged as the most influential factors overall. These findings underscore the need for network-specific planning and offer guidance for AV deployment, infrastructure upgrades and regulatory frameworks to support a safer transition to automated mobility.

The Horizon 2020 research project PHOEBE has recently released the PHOEBE 8th Newsletter, which provides information on the latest outcomes of the EU-funded ‘Predictive Approaches for Safer Urban Environment’ (PHOEBE) project aiming to increase the road safety of vulnerable road users, especially those who use active mobility and e-scooters. This version of the Newsletter marks the conclusion of PHOEBE, highlighting that the project’s Final Workshop took place on 23 June 2026 as part of the 10th Road Safety & Simulation International Conference (RSS2026) in Naples, where PHOEBE partners presented the project’s modelling results, including mode-choice modelling, behavioural modelling and the integration of the iRAP and Aimsun tools. 

A paper titled Impacts of different feedback features on driver behaviour: Findings from a multiphase naturalistic study authored by Armira Kontaxi, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis has been published in Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour. This Paper examines the impact of driver feedback delivered through a smartphone application on driving behaviour risk indicators, within a 21-month multiphase naturalistic driving experiment involving 175 car drivers. The Study combines a preliminary analysis using summary statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Structural Equation Models on a dataset of 73,869 trips, to assess how feedback mechanisms and exposure factors influence driving behaviours. The findings suggest that the examined feedback mechanisms are effective in reducing the percentage of speeding time and harsh braking events, with the scorecard feature having the highest positive effect on driving habits, followed by gamification through competition and challenges. Furthermore, driving during the morning peak was associated with more unsafe behaviour such as speeding and harsh accelerations, while strong positive correlations were found between speeding, harsh braking and harsh accelerations, highlighting the interconnected nature of risky driving behaviours.

The Editorial for the Special Issue Emerging Solutions and Technologies for Smart Mobility and Vehicle Safety in Transportation authored by Eva Michelaraki and George Yannis has been published in Vehicles. This Special Issue was conceived to explore how emerging technologies contribute to safer, more efficient and more sustainable transportation systems. Particular attention is given to AI-driven decision-making, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), intelligent transportation systems (ITS), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, connected and autonomous vehicles, and data-centric approaches to traffic safety and mobility management. The papers published in this Issue reflect the multidisciplinary nature of modern transportation research, addressing topics such as driver behaviour analysis, crash prediction and prevention, automated driving, adaptive traffic management, smart infrastructure, and predictive analytics. Although diverse in their specific application domains, these contributions collectively demonstrate that the future of transportation safety and smart mobility will be shaped by the convergence of artificial intelligence, connectivity, automation, human-centred design, and evidence-based operational strategies.  

The European Road Safety Charter of the European Commission recently published an article titled “Reduce speed to save lives” highlighting that an estimated 10% to 15% of all road crashes and as much as 30% of fatal crashes are directly linked to speeding. The article underlines that speed not only increases the likelihood of a crash but also makes its consequences far more severe for vulnerable road users: when a pedestrian is struck by a car at 30 km/h, their chance of survival is about 90%, while at 50 km/h this drops drastically to approximately 20%. Scientific evidence shows that implementing a city-wide 30 km/h speed limit can reduce fatalities by an average of 37%, while also contributing to an 18% reduction in emissions, a 2.5 dB decrease in noise pollution and a 7% reduction in fuel consumption, with minimal impact on travel times. 

The European Commission is organizing the EU Road Safety Conference which will take place on 23 November 2026 in Brussels. This flagship event marks the halfway point in Europe’s 10-year strategy to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 and will bring together policymakers, researchers, employers, and civil society leaders to explore the future of safe mobility. At this EU Road Safety Conference will also be presented the Excellence in Road Safety Awards, recognizing the contributions of the European Road Safety Charter’s community towards the common goal of improved road safety across Europe.  The Award categories for 2026 include education, technology, vulnerable road users, at work and urban measures and urban initiatives. 

At a recent podcast in Break It Down, NTUA Professor George Yannis discusses how the traffic system works, congestion, private cars and public transport. The discussion highlighted that congestion is the norm in modern cities and that improving mobility requires better alternatives to private cars, including faster buses, expanded metro networks, cycling and walking. Special emphasis was given to traffic management, bus lane enforcement, the implementation of 30 km/h speed limits and the role of education and enforcement in changing road safety culture. The discussion also highlighted that the significant reduction in road fatalities in Greece during 2025 demonstrates that consistent enforcement can save lives. Full article and related video-podcast are now available.   

The Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) of the European Commission recently published the third edition of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) Guidelines, providing cities across Europe with improved support to plan, develop and implement sustainable urban mobility. The updated SUMP Guidelines are aligned with key frameworks such as the European Green Deal, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, the Road Safety Policy Framework, the new EU Urban Mobility Framework, and reflect the requirement under the revised TEN-T Regulation for 431 urban nodes across Europe to adopt a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan by end 2027. Related to the updated SUMP Guidelines, the SUMP Reference Document on Cycling and the Urban Vehicle Access Regulations were also published.

The Horizon Europe research project TRUST has recently released its 1st Newsletter, providing updates on the first year of activities of the project, which aims to grow a positive Traffic Safety Culture across Europe through a systematic transition towards shared responsibility for safe and sustainable mobility. The Newsletter highlights that TRUST project partners presented at two major road safety conferences: the IRTAD 2026 Conference in Athens and the TRA 2026 Conference in Budapest. It also announces the launch of the first episode of the TRUST Podcast, in which TRUST Advisory Board members discuss traffic safety culture, as well as upcoming pilot activities for testing TRUST interventions in secondary schools, exploring how different approaches can improve Traffic Safety Culture among young people. 

The Foundation VINCI Autoroutes recently published the results of the 16th Euro-Barometer for Responsible Driving by Ipsos BVA, in which representative attitudes of Europeans at the wheel are recorded, enabling also the monitoring of the evolution of risky driving and good practices to better target prevention messages in European countries. According to this Study, Greece has the highest rate of drivers (89%) that fear aggressive behavior from other drivers (EU average 82%), while 76% of Greek drivers admit exceeding the speed limit by a few km/h. Furthermore, 66% of Greek drivers admit talking on the phone while driving and 37% of Greek drivers do not always wear their seatbelt, more than double the EU average of 17%. 

The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) recently published a Guide titled “Rightsizing Urban Mobility: The L-Category integration guide for European cities“. This hands-on guide focuses on helping local authorities close that gap and reflect L-category vehicles: mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles, within their Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). The Guide provides cities with evidence-based recommendations across three interconnected action fields: mobility, safety, recognizing riders as vulnerable road users,  and environment, and includes a comprehensive annex of actionable policy measures that cities can implement without major infrastructure investment. The evidence highlights that 10% shift from cars to L-category vehicles could cut congestion by nearly 40%, benefiting all road users, while four motorcycles fit in a single car parking bay, freeing space for pedestrians, businesses and greenery.  

The Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move) of the European Commission recently published a Report, assessing the current state of cycling within the European Union. This Study identified over 900,000 km of cycling paths and lanes network at EU level, providing a first comparable EU overview of the network accessible to cyclists, and found that almost 24% of EU residents cycle at least once per week, while bike sharing services are present in the vast majority of EU cities with over 150,000 inhabitants, corresponding to a fleet size of about 300,000 bikes. The study includes findings and recommendations on the methodology for the current and future collection of cycling data in the EU, as well as 27 country fiches with a detailed overview for each country.   

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) recently published a report titled “Mapping the Automated Mobility Ecosystem: Landscape and Key Developments“, drawing on data from the European CCAM Observatory. This Report presents a landscape analysis, covering 122 automated mobility services and mapping 1,940 component–supplier pairs across 937 unique companies operating in 12 technology categories, examining the geographic distribution of service deployments, the composition and sourcing patterns of technology stacks, and the structure of the industrial ecosystem underpinning automated driving. Furthermore, a dedicated assessment of Europe’s position reveals that EU-based suppliers account for approximately 18% of all mapped component–supplier pairs and 165 unique companies, with relative strengths in connectivity, cybersecurity, and V2X communication, but notable gaps in software-intensive categories such as AI and planning, cloud infrastructure and ADS development. 

A Paper titled Learning-based methods for spatial road safety analysis using in-vehicle telematics data: A systematic review authored by Simone Paradiso, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis has been published in Journal of Safety Research. This Paper presents a structured review of the existing literature at the intersection of learning-based methods, spatial analysis, and surrogate safety measures derived from in-vehicle telematics data, following PRISMA guidelines, where 44 studies were identified and analyzed. The studies were analyzed and narratively synthesized focusing on data collection methods, feature engineering processes, and their implications on the selection of the spatial scale, with methods ranging from traditional econometrics to cutting-edge deep learning techniques. The findings suggest that advancements in AI and telematics data are reshaping road safety research, providing new tools to interpret safety analyses and generate actionable insights, while clarifying the relationships among data sources, feature selection, and spatial scale would strengthen the analytical framework and improve understanding for safer mobility.  

A Paper titled Conflict angle analysis at multilane roundabouts using naturalistic vehicle trajectory data from UAVs authored by Apostolos Anagnostopoulos, Apostolos Ziakopoulos, Fotini Kehagia, Athanasios Theofilatos, Pantelis Kopelias and Nikolaos Eliou has been published in Traffic Injury Prevention. This Paper aims to enhance current knowledge by employing Surrogate Safety Measures (SSMs) to investigate conflict angles at modern multilane roundabouts in Greece using naturalistic vehicle trajectory data collected via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Detailed vehicle trajectory data from four modern multilane roundabouts in Thessaloniki, Larissa and Volos were collected through UAV video recordings and processed using vehicle tracking software, with a mixed-effects Beta-regression Model (BRM) with site-varying random intercepts applied to model conflict angles. The findings suggest that the location of conflicts within the roundabout significantly affects the conflict angle, and that site-specific characteristics have a substantial impact, emphasizing that roundabout safety performance can vary by location.

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), in cooperation with DG RTD, recently launched the Global Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) Observatory.  The Observatory provides a science-based, neutral hub that monitors the global ecosystem of connected and automated road mobility, by mapping private-sector developments across the full technology stack, tracking Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of key components, and producing evidence-based recommendations that inform EU-level and national investment decisions. It currently tracks 1,335 ecosystem participants, 937 suppliers, 123 services and 44 countries. 

The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) recently announced the launch of the updated Star Rating Model Version 3.10, marking a major milestone in the evolution of global road safety assessment. Following a comprehensive five-year review, this new version introduces a significantly enhanced, evidence-based framework for measuring road infrastructure risk and guiding life-saving investments worldwide. Used in more than 140 countries, iRAP Star Ratings provide an objective measure of the level of safety “built in” to the design of roads for all road users, including vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.  

A paper titled Spatial dynamics of crash hotspots under autonomous vehicle adoption scenarios authored by Maria Oikonomou and George Yannis has been published in Accident Analysis & Prevention. This Paper conducts a spatial modelling analysis to predict crash hotspot occurrences under different AV deployment scenarios. The study combines microsimulation-derived conflict data, a quantitative crash-risk formulation, validated using field crash data, based on Time-To-Collision (TTC) thresholds, and spatial statistical analysis using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic to detect statistically significant hotspots of elevated crash risk. The findings suggest that automation significantly alters the spatial distribution of crash risk, leading to a gradual reduction and spatial diffusion of hotspots as AV penetration increases. However, a temporary rise in the probability that conflict events occur within hotspot areas occurs under moderate automation shares, highlighting the transitional instability of mixed-traffic conditions. Furthermore, intersections and other high-interaction areas remained the most critical locations, while congested segments were associated with a higher probability that conflict events occur within hotspot areas.  

A paper titled Safety effects of take-over requests on vehicle conflicts in realistic mixed traffic simulation authored by Marios Sekadakis, Maria Oikonomou and George Yannis has been published in Accident Analysis & Prevention. This Paper investigates how take-over-related dynamics in Automated Driving (AD) influence safety interactions in mixed traffic using a spatial Generalized Additive Model (GAM) applied to a calibrated microsimulation of a real highway corridor in central Greece. Methodologically, this study combines microsimulation, SSAM-based surrogate safety analysis, and multivariate spatial GAM modeling to quantify TOR effects on AD-Human Driven Vehicle (HDV) interactions at the network level. The findings suggest that higher automation shares and speed limits were associated with longer Time-to-Collision (TTC), reflecting smoother and more stable interactions, whereas take-over events consistently reduced TTC regardless of Time Budget (TB), confirming elevated short-term risk during control transitions. Furthermore, automation benefits scale with market share but are constrained by transition management and roadway geometry, emphasizing the importance of spatially aware, take-over-sensitive safety strategies in mixed traffic.  

Eurocities recently published the results of a Survey on 30 km/h speed limits in European cities, based on responses from 38 cities in 19 European countries. 75% of cities report clear positive results, with fewer road deaths and injuries, while 91% report at least one positive impact on urban life, such as a lower number of crashes and fatalities, a decrease in air and noise pollution, and an increase in active mobility modes. Cities report reductions in crashes, fatalities and serious injuries for all road users, alongside lower vehicle speeds and reduced noise pollution. Crucially, these gains come without trade-offs: respondents report no overall negative effects on congestion, traffic volumes or journey times, and only limited, manageable impacts on public transport. 

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has published the 50th PIN Flash Report titled “Improving the safety of cycling in Europe“. This Report analyses recent trends in cyclist deaths and serious injuries across Europe and identifies the key risk factors affecting cyclists on European roads. Furthermore, it examines the policies and measures that can help improve cycling safety while supporting the continued growth of cycling as a safe, healthy and sustainable mode of transport such as the introduction and enforcement 30 km/h speed limits on urban roads. The European Union has committed to reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030, as part of its Vision Zero ambition. Ensuring that cyclists benefit from progress towards these targets is essential, especially as cycling levels continue to grow.   

Virginia Petraki has successfully defended her PhD thesis titled “A Multilevel Integrated Assessment of Safe and Green Mobility”, under the supervision of NTUA Prof. George Yannis. Sustainable mobility is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing road safety, as well as economic and environmental impacts. This doctoral dissertation develops a data-driven framework for the multilevel assessment of safe and green mobility, spanning from individual trips to the road network, by fusing road infrastructure, traffic, and weather-related data with high-resolution naturalistic driving behavior data. The developed framework is structured around three complementary analytical modules, including (i) the identification of safe and green mobility patterns, (ii) the joint modeling of safe and green driving outcomes, and (iii) the assessment of sustainable driving efficiency. The results reveal that safe and green mobility are strongly interconnected yet context-dependent, exhibiting both synergies and trade-offs across levels of analysis, while highlighting the critical role of driving behavior and external conditions in shaping these interactions. Overall, the dissertation provides a comprehensive and interpretable analytical framework that supports informed and targeted interventions towards more sustainable mobility for all.    

The Horizon Europe research project IMPROVA has recently released its 4th Newsletter, focusing on enhancing road safety by addressing the complexities of long-term consequences (LTC) caused by road traffic crashes. This version of the Newsletter focuses on WP updates and advancements, as well as two IMPROVA papers presented during the IRTAD 2026 Conference in Athens. Key WP updates include the launch of the Functional Capacity Index and the integration of European crash data into a new head-injury metamodel. Furthermore, the Newsletter announces the upcoming IMPROVA General Assembly in Athens.

The EU co-funded research project GreCO successfully participated in a direct dialogue with the European Commission and in a Focused Policy Lab of the European Urban Initiative on Sustainable Tourism, held on 22–23 April 2026 in Copenhagen. GreCO Project in collaboration with the Municipality of Elliniko-Argyroupoli, actively contributed to the discussions focused on the green transition, digitalization, inclusion and balanced tourism management, as well as the promotion of sustainable behaviours and experiences, directly contributing to the shaping of the upcoming European Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. This participation was an important opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experience with representatives from the European Commission, policymakers and professionals from across Europe.  

A paper titled Tram or Bus? A Stated-Preference Analysis of Road User Mode Choice in Larissa, Greece authored by Athanasios Theofilatos, Apostolos Ziakopoulos, Apostolos Anagnostopoulos, Georgios Georgiadis, Ioannis Politis and Nikolaos Eliou has been published in Systems. This Paper aims to investigate Public Transport (PT) preferences in the city of Larissa, Greece. To this end, a SP survey was designed and implemented, resulting in 972 observations that were collected for further statistical analysis. Survey results show a slight preference for trams over buses, with 54.63% selecting the tram and 45.37% favoring the buses. The findings also indicate that passengers place a high value on the quality of infrastructure related to access and waiting times, underlining the need to improve the overall user experience beyond the vehicle itself. In summary, the present research offers valuable insights into how the introduction of a tram system could possibly reshape PT usage patterns when compared with the legacy existing bus services.

The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Ms. Annalena Baerbock, recently submitted the Draft Resolution “Scope, modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting on improving global road safety“. Τhe Draft Resolution is leading the discussion towards the High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety in New York, on 20-21 July 2026, under the theme “Scaling up and accelerating implementation of commitments to halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030”, in line with the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. It also initiated a multi-stakeholder hearing, bringing together Governments, civil society organizations, academia and the private sector. 

Τhe African Road Safety Charter has recently been ratified by 15 African Union Member States, which is the minimum threshold required for it to come into force. This marks an important step towards stronger accountability, coordinated action, and safer roads across the continent. To support members in understanding this development, the Alliance recently held a capacity building session focused on the Charter and its implications. 

The Horizon 2020 research project PHOEBE has recently released the PHOEBE 7th Newsletter, which provides information on the latest outcomes of the EU-funded ‘Predictive Approaches for Safer Urban Environment’ (PHOEBE) project aiming to increase the road safety of vulnerable road users, especially those who use active mobility and e-scooters. Final PHOEBE consortium meeting took place in the West-Midlands, where PHOEBE partners planned the upcoming final conference and focused on the topics of systems integration, transferability, and exploitation of PHOEBE results. Additionally, this edition of the newsletter announces the Final PHOEBE Workshop at RSS 2026 Conference. 

The European Road Safety Charter of the European Commission, has recently published a new Article focusing on safer children journeys to school. While the European Union has made long-term progress in reducing road deaths, recent data shows improvement has slowed, highlighting the need for renewed action – especially for vulnerable road users such as children. There are several factors that may contribute to risk during school travel, such as the increase in private car as default mode to travel to school, traffic congestion, infrastructure and vehicle safety. Some countermeasures include school streets, improved infrastructure such as crossings and good visibility around schools and road safety education and awareness for children and parents. 

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Investigation of the Acceptance of Autonomous Vehicles by Greek Drivers” was recently presented by Konstantina Roumelioti. The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptance of autonomous vehicles by Greek drivers, as well as their intention for future purchase, focusing on the factors that shape their attitude towards this new technology. Data collection was carried out through a properly designed questionnaire, which included hypothetical travel scenarios with varying parameters, such as safety, cost, and time, in order to capture users’ preferences and perceptions. The results indicated that the acceptance of autonomous vehicles depends, among other factors, on cost, travel time and vehicle safety level. Furthermore, the need and possibility of being able to take control of the vehicle at any time increased the likelihood of choosing autonomous vehicles, positively influencing their acceptance.   

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Cost Benefit Analysis of 30 km/h speed limit implementation in all EU cities” was recently presented by Gerasimos Balatsinos. To achieve this objective, a methodological framework consisting a statistical analysis of road crashes and a Cost–Benefit Analysis at a macroscopic level were developed. Initially, road crash data recorded within urban areas for the period 2016–2022 were collected for each EU Member State. Subsequently, the data was utilized to develop two logistic regression models, incorporating fixed and random effects. The results indicate that crash severity is primarily influenced by the type of transport mode, lighting conditions, and age, while other factors exhibit a smaller yet statistically significant effect. Furthermore, substantial variation is observed across EU countries in terms of baseline risk levels. The findings suggest that the implementation of a 30 km/h speed limit constitutes an economically feasible measure at the European level, yielding a positive Economic Net Present Value (ENPV) of approximately €18 billion. At the city level, the ENPV ranges from approximately €90 million (Paris) to €4.6 billion (London).  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Critical factors of road users’ self declared behavior and safety in Greece” was recently presented by Konstantina-Aikaterini Mavraki. To achieve this objective, critical behaviours were analysed, such as compliance with speed limits, seat belt use, alcohol consumption, mobile phone use, etc., across different categories of users, including car drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians, and users of electric scooters. Six separate binary logistic regression models for different categories of road network users were developed, using also the results of the ESRA survey, which were compared with field measurement data in order to highlight differences between self-reported and observed behaviour. The findings suggest that individuals who agree with and accept risky and illegal road behaviours are more likely to commit violations of the Road Traffic Code across all examined categories of road users. Furthermore, recommendations that could enhance road users’ safety, such as educational and training campaigns and targeted infrastructure interventions were provided.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Investigation of the acceptance of reducing the speed limit to 30 km/h in all urban areas in Greece” was recently presented by Konstantina Gkoudinakou. For this purpose, a special questionnaire was developed that was answered by 302 drivers based on the method of declared preference for 10 hypothetical scenarios with variations in time, fuel consumption, and the probability of a road crash with casualties. Data were collected, processed, analyzed, and after many tests, a polynomial regression model and two binary regression models were developed to understand the factors that affect the acceptance of drivers in a city center to reduce speed limits. The results indicated the variables that significantly affect driver acceptance, such as increased travel time, reduced fuel consumption, reduced likelihood of road accidents with injury, driving frequency, the role of speed in causing accidents, the role of pedestrians in choosing driving speed, and certain demographic factors. This way, findings are also obtained regarding the social acceptance of the measure in relation to the characteristics of the participants, such as gender, age, education, driving behavior, and so on.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Investigation of the Perceptions and Acceptance of Greek Road Users towards the New Road Traffic Code” was recently presented by Nikolaos Spathis. For the purposes of this research, data collection was carried out through a questionnaire, which was completed by 800 travelers. Subsequently, binomial logistic regression and elasticity models were developed for Greece as a whole, for Attica, and for the other Regions of Greece. The results showed that acceptance is influenced by specific factors such as gender, age group, violations related to excessive speed, attitude toward behavioral change, hours of driving per week, as well as the belief that the 30 km/h measure within residential areas will reduce road accidents. The findings indicated that the majority of Greek drivers show a tendency to accept the new Road Traffic Code. Overall, the results indicate that acceptance of the new Road Traffic Code is shaped by a combination of demographic characteristics, driving behavior, and perceptions regarding the effectiveness of the implemented measures.  

The International Road Federation (IRF) organized with great success a Training Programme called Road Safety for Managers: From Diagnosis to Decision which was held online on 31 March to 9 April 2026. This 12-hour Course was designed to equip decision-makers with a practical, system-level understanding of road safety management, enabling them to interpret crash and risk data, select proven safety treatments and build robust, defensible investment cases. Participants also learned how to establish monitoring frameworks that support accountability, guide continuous improvement and deliver measurable reductions in fatal and serious injuries across the network.   NTUA Prof. George Yannis actively contributed with the following presentation:

•   Core Road Safety Concepts for Managers

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the updated Road Safety Country Profiles, which provide a comprehensive overview of the road safety status in the 27 EU Member States and three EFTA countries for the period 2014 to 2024. These Country Profiles exploit data and information from a range of sources, including the CARE and other international databases, as well as national sources, in order to highlight current road safety outcomes, performance indicators, policy & measures and structure & culture for each country.

The Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move) of the European Commission has recently launched a new layer at the EU Road Safety Map with the results of the networkwide road-safety-assessment performed in 2025 by the EU Member States, following the requirements of the amendment of Directive (EU) 2019/1936 of 23 October 2019, which supplements Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management. This Tool utilizes the TENtec Geographic Information Platform showcasing on maps the performance of several Indicators of the TEN-T network, including the safety star-rating of the EU primary roads.

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV, VIAS Institute and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Speed and Speeding Thematic Report which emphasizes that driving at excessive or inappropriate speed is a major threat to safety on the road. It is estimated that 10 to 15% of all crashes and 30% of all fatal crashes are the direct result of speeding or inappropriate speed. It is also emphasized that safety systems in cars, such as intelligent speed assistance or electronic stability control can prevent speeding or reduce the consequences of speeding, while education and communication, in combination with and supporting other measures, are particularly important. Moreover, city-wide 30km/h speed limits and their enforcement has been shown to be the most efficient measure for quick reduction of crash and injury risks.  

The Editorial for the Special Issue Vehicle Safe Motion in Mixed-Vehicle-Technology Environment authored by Stergios Mavromatis, George Yannis and Yasser Hassan has been published in the World Electric Vehicle Journal. This Special Issue aims to advance knowledge on vehicle safe motion during this critical transition period by bringing together recent research on mixed traffic flow dynamics, safety assessment, and intelligent control strategies. Collectively, the papers in this Special Issue provide scientific insights and practical tools that support safer, more efficient, and more resilient vehicle motion in increasingly complex mixed-technology traffic environments. The findings suggest that connectivity-enabled strategies, predictive control, and cooperative decision-making can mitigate safety risks while promoting smoother traffic flow and reduced energy consumption, particularly in complex settings such as work zones, tunnels, and intersections. Moreover, AI-based perception and traffic monitoring emerge as key enablers for real-time traffic management and energy-aware electric mobility. 

The 2^nd Edition of the book titled ‘Highway Safety Analytics and Modeling‘ authored by Dominique Lord, Xiao Qin, Srinivas R. Geedipally, has been recently published. This book covers the key elements needed for making effective transportation engineering and policy decisions based on highway crash data analysis. This thoroughly updated second edition updates the material contained in the book based on the latest advancements in highway safety research as well as feedback from readers. It includes entirely new sections on topics such as digital twins as a source of data, model validation, extreme value models, temporal instability, joint crash frequency and severity modeling, sample size, quasi-induced exposure method, autonomous vehicle safety estimate, and more. 

The European Union has recently published its Mid-Point Progress Report on the 2021-2030 road safety strategy with the active contribution of NTUA. The results summarised in this Report illustrate how much can be achieved when actors at all levels – from individuals to EU-level governing structures – contribute to the Safe System approach, within their areas of responsibility. But the slow-down in progress towards Vision Zero – against a background of increased traffic growth and new societal and technological trends – calls into question whether the current road safety ‘toolbox’ is fit for the future. The Report reveals significant opportunities in order to ensure the EU remains on track to meet its 2030 objectives, namely: technological advances in vehicle safety, growing awareness of the economic benefits of investments in safety, an increasing political focus on sustainable mobility and the coordinated, sustained, and properly resourced efforts across the EU and within Member States at all levels of government and society.    

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Main Figures Facts and Figures Report which examines road fatalities on European roads. According to this Report, there has been a 12% decrease in road fatalities for the EU27 between 2019 and 2024, with far more males than females being killed in road crashes. Moreover, 48% of total road fatalities are vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, moped riders and motorcyclists) and over a half of road fatalities occur on rural roads (53%). On urban roads, the share of killed pedestrians is highest with 34%.  

The European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC) has published a Position Paper titled “Road Transport Research in Horizon Europe Follow-up”. ERTRAC and the Associations supporting this Position Paper are convinced that dedicated funding for Road Transport Research is necessary to address the systemic road transport research needs critical to improve the efficiency, sustainability, safety and resilience of the whole European mobility system. Furthermore, it highlights the need for continued investment in vehicle technologies, infrastructure, traffic management, automation, and connectivity, as well as strong public–private cooperation, which are critical for delivering safer, cleaner, and more efficient road transport systems.  

Marios Sekadakis has successfully defended his PhD dissertation titled: “Safety Assessment and Behaviour Modelling of Take-Over Dynamics in Automated Driving: From Human Response to Network-Level Simulation”, under the supervision of NTUA Prof. George Yannis. This PhD developed an integrated framework to explain how take-over response, driving performance and safety in automated driving at SAE Levels 2 and 3 are shaped by transition context, driver state, interface design and vehicle state dynamics. By combining systematic review and meta-analysis, simulator experimentation, data-driven modelling, behavioural profiling and network-level traffic simulation, the dissertation examined the full chain from individual re-engagement behaviour to vehicle motion and mixed-traffic safety effects. This work demonstrates that safety during take-over transitions cannot be explained by take-over duration alone. It demonstrates how Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design, automation level, behavioural variability and roadway context interact to shape both vehicle-level and network-level safety, identifying where and why safety margins collapse during transitions. The findings provide a consistent evidence base for safer take-over management and more robust evaluation of future automated driving systems.     

Maria Oikonomou has successfully defended her PhD thesis titled “Multilevel crash risk assessment under autonomous vehicle integration: From partial to full autonomy through urban traffic simulation”, under the supervision of NTUA Prof. George Yannis. The thesis develops a validated, simulation-based framework for estimating crash risk during the transition from partial to full Autonomous Vehicle (AV) deployment. A systematic review establishes an evidence-based repository of AV behavioural parameters to support traffic microsimulation. The methodology integrates conflict-based Surrogate Safety Measures and a novel Time-To-Collision-based conflict-to-crash-risk conversion procedure, validated through k-means clustering against observed crash patterns. Applied to a high-fidelity simulation model of central Athens, the framework evaluates fifteen AV deployment scenarios across varying penetration levels. The multilevel assessment includes road-level modelling with XGBoost and SHAP to quantify the influence of traffic, infrastructure and automation, and conflict-level spatial analysis using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic and a binomial GAM to detect high-risk hotspots. Results reveal that crash risk initially increases in mixed-traffic conditions before decreasing as automated behaviour becomes dominant and stabilises network interactions.    

The European Commission has recently published findings from Trendline project on key road safety performance indicators (KPIs), revealing significant gaps in compliance with basic safety measures across EU Member States. This data paints a troubling picture of speeding compliance, particularly in urban environments. In many countries, compliance falls below 50% on city roads—precisely where pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users are most at risk. Furthermore, while driver seat-belt use shows strong compliance, often exceeding 95% on motorways, rear-seat belt use tells a different story. Moreover, although the data shows high overall compliance with alcohol limits, at approximately 98, the seemingly small 2% non-compliance rate translates to roughly five million impaired drivers on EU roads. These indicators support road safety strategies and monitoring efforts at both national and European levels as the EU works toward its 2030 road safety targets. 

The 2025 infographic of NTUA Road Safety Observatory (www.nrso.ntua.gr) highlights one more very intensive and highly fruitful year. The nrso scientific team with high dedication, efficiency and expertise continues to grow and excel, being active in 30 innovative research projects, succeeded to publish 103 scientific papers (32 in peer reviewed journals) – our best performance ever, and travelled around the world in hundreds of meetings to further develop and promote road safety science. We persist with passion for evidence based decisions towards a new culture of calm and safe roads everywhere and for all. 

Vehicles Journal has recently launched the 2nd Edition of the Special Issue titled: “Emerging Solutions and Technologies for Smart Mobility and Vehicle Safety in Transportation” aiming to present cutting-edge research on novel solutions and technological advancements in smart mobility, transportation safety, and intelligent vehicle systems. The manuscript submission deadline is until 25 December 2026.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions that explore data-driven approaches to traffic management, machine learning applications for driver behaviour analysis, crash prediction and prevention strategies, automation in transportation systems, and the role of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) in improving road safety.

Guest editors of this special issue from NTUA are: Dr. Eva Michelaraki and Prof. George Yannis.

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Serious Injuries Facts and Figures Report which looks  at serious injuries resulting from road crashes in EU and EFTA countries. According to this Report, the police-based data indicates an average decrease of 19% in serious injuries over the decade 2013-2023, as well as average around 8 serious injuries for every road fatality on EU roads (France and Italy excluded among others). Moreover, vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, moped riders and motorcyclists) make up a large share of serious injuries (57% EU average), with most of the serious injuries in the EU occurring on urban roads, accounting for 57%, half of which are pedestrians. This compares with 48% of fatalities.  

This year we followed our dreams with passion, system and stamina, promoting intensively road safety scientific excellence and safer mobility everywhere and for all. At mid-way to the decade target of -50% road fatalities, we need to further strengthen our individual and collective efforts to sincerely include traffic safety into the mobility agenda and persist in implementing the vision zero traffic fatalities.

We thank you all for the excellent cooperation and we are sending you our very best wishes for Merry Christmas and a Very Lucky New Year, full of personal and professional achievements. 

The Hellenic Institute of Customer Service has recently honored NTUA and Global Link, recognizing their excellence in customer experience and responsible service practices. The awards received concerned Best Mobile Customer Experience and Best Organisation for ESG Factors & Practices in Customer Service for the development of the SmartMaps Digital Platform. The SmartMaps Platform combines data from mobile phone sensors and through machine learning algorithms enables users to select safer and more environmentally friendly routes, while improving overall traffic efficiency. These distinctions highlight the value of applying innovative digital solutions to address key social and environmental challenges and reflect the impact of collaboration between academia and industry in delivering customer-centric and sustainable services.

The European Road Safety Charter of the European Commission, has recently published a new Article focusing on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which remains one of the leading causes of road crashes. Despite longstanding legislation and enforcement efforts, an estimated 25% of EU road fatalities are alcohol-related, and drug impairment is an increasing concern in fatal collisions. Addressing driving under the influence requires an integrated, multi-measure approach, combining strong health policies to reduce alcohol consumption, lower legal BAC limits, visible and consistent enforcement, and targeted road safety campaigns to shift social norms and promote alternative transport options. 

The Horizon Europe research project IMPROVA has recently released its 3rd Newsletter, focusing on enhancing road safety by addressing the complexities of long-term consequences (LTC) caused by road traffic crashes. This version of the Newsletter mainly focuses on this year’s 1st IMPROVA PANEL where the IMPROVA partners, each representing a crucial part of the consortium (academy, research, medical, and industry), presented an overview of what has happened in the project since it started. Moreover in 2025, IMPROVA strengthened its presence in the international road safety research community, presenting its findings and research approach at several key conferences and expert meetings in Europe and Asia. In total, IMPROVA participated in 11 industry events, conferences and stakeholder meetings globally. 

The Horizon Europe research project CulturalRoad has recently launched a Survey to gather perspectives and better understand users’ priorities. The Project  is working on new methodologies that integrate cultural and geographical diversity into Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) deployment plans, with the aim of ensuring that CCAM improves mobility for everyone. The questionnaire covers physical limitations, digital accessibility, safety measures, and other ethical considerations related to mobility in general, and CCAM in particular. No prior knowledge is required to participate – everyone’s experience is valuable. The Survey takes from 5 to 30 minutes to answer and participation is possible either anonymously or by name. Take part in the Survey here. 

The Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport recently launched a road safety campaign, to draw public attention on the safety of Greek drivers with focus on the risk caused to other’s lives. This Campaign aims to reduce serious traffic crashes and fatalities and save all road users lives, boosting road safety awareness and respect to other road users and the new Road Traffic Code. 

A paper titled Incentive-Based Telematics and Driver Safety: Insights from a Naturalistic Study of Behavioral Change authored by Armira Kontaxi, Harris Sideris, Dimitrios Oikonomopoulos and George Yannis has been published in Sensors. This paper investigates driver profiling and behavioral change using high-resolution telematics data collected through the OSeven DrivingStar smartphone application. The naturalistic driving experiment was divided into two main phases: a baseline period with personalized feedback (Phase A) and an incentive-based phase (Phase B) comprising two gamified driving challenges with distinct reward criteria. The analysis of K-means clustering identified three driver profiles — Low-Exposure Cautious, Balanced/Average, and High-Risk Drivers — based on exposure, harsh events, speeding, and mobile phone use. The findings indicate that the Balanced/Average group exhibited statistically significant improvements during both challenges, reducing speeding frequency and intensity, while High-Risk Drivers achieved moderate reductions in speeding intensity. Furthermore, this Study contributes to the growing body of research on gamified driver feedback by linking behavioral clustering with responsiveness to incentives, providing a foundation for adaptive and personalized road safety interventions. 

The Horizon 2020 research project PHOEBE has recently released the PHOEBE 6th Newsletter, which provides information on the latest outcomes of the EU-funded ‘Predictive Approaches for Safer Urban Environment’ (PHOEBE) project aiming to increase the road safety of vulnerable road users, especially those who use active mobility and e-scooters. PHOEBE partners are strengthening their collaboration beyond the project framework, supported by initiatives such as the official accreditation of The Floow as an AiRAP Attribute Supplier. 

The International Road Federation (IRF) has honoured Professor George Yannis with the IRF Personality of the Year Award 2025, recognising his exceptional leadership, scientific contribution and global impact in advancing road safety and sustainable mobility. His academic influence is reflected in a remarkable publication record of over 1,000 scientific papers, widely cited around the world, and contribution in more than 350 research and engineering projects. Beyond academia and institutional leadership, Professor Yannis has also demonstrated an inspiring personal commitment to safer cities. In November 2024, he completed an extraordinary challenge: running 30 Marathons in 30 months to promote the adoption of city-wide 30 km/h speed limits. By awarding Professor Yannis the Personality of the Year 2025, the IRF celebrates not only a distinguished professional career, but a lifelong dedication to making mobility safer for all, through science, advocacy and personal action. 

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has published the 49th PIN Flash Report titled “Tapping the potential for reducing work-related road deaths and injuries“. This Report examines how governments, Authorities and employers are addressing the issue of work-related road deaths, identifies examples of good practice and highlights remaining gaps. Specifically, data from 16 European countries show that work-related road deaths account for 30-40% of all road deaths, but the official numbers are distorted by inconsistent reporting, missing data and incompatible national definitions. The findings underscore the need for closer alignment between road safety and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) systems, stronger data integration and clearer accountability for road risk management at every level.   

A global coalition of partners announced their commitment to the Implementation of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026-2035, to accelerate the transition towards inclusive, safe, green and efficient road systems for all. More precisely, IRF, Arup, NTRO, Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, FIDIC, iRAP, ORIS and World Wildlife Fund joined forces to translate the vision of the Decade into concrete action by providing strategic direction and practical support for those who plan, build and manage road systems. At its core stands the Roadmaps for Change series will outline policy actions, technical standards and tools, replicable practices, innovation and indicators of progress, together with a capacity-building programme for trainings and peer-learning activities, with a special focus on road and transport public Authorities.  

A paper titled State-of-the-art review on sustainable driving behavior: trade-offs between road safety, fuel consumption and emissions authored by Virginia Petraki, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis has been published in Accident Analysis & Prevention. This paper aims to systematically review the role of driving behavior, as expressed by road crashes, fuel consumption, and vehicular emissions. A two-stage PRISMA approach was developed to shortlist the most relevant studies for systematic review out of 1,120 initial studies, with each stage focused on safety and eco-driving behavior studies. The findings suggest that the main driver behavior factors found to affect both road crashes and fuel consumption/emissions are related to average and instantaneous driving speed and acceleration, harsh acceleration and deceleration events, driving volatility, vehicular jerk, and idling during driving. Furthermore, a discussion of the knowledge gaps in the potential of an integrated methodological framework of driving behavior assessment in the context of road safety, economy, and environmental sustainability is then provided, followed by the relevant conclusions. 

Dimitris Nikolaou, Eva Michelaraki, Maria G. Oikonomou, Marios Sekadakis and Stella Roussou, Research Associates of the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering of NTUA were awarded with the NTUA Thomaidion Award for outstanding road safety publications in scientific journals. The Awards for publications in Scientific Journals concerned:

• Nikolaou D., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Theofilatos A., Yannis G., (2024) “Spatial analysis of telematics-based surrogate safety measures”, Journal of Safety Research, Vol. 92, pp. 98-108. 
• Yannis G., Michelaraki E., (2024) “Review of City-Wide 30 km/h Speed Limit Benefits in Europe”, Sustainability 2024, 16(11). 
• Antonakaki A., Oikonomou M. G., Garefalakis T., Yannis G., (2024) “Driving Automation Systems Penetration and Traffic Safety: Implications for Infrastructure Design and Policy”, Infrastructures 2024, 9(12), 234. 
• Sekadakis M., Kallidoni M., Katrakazas C., Trösterer S., Marx C., Moertl P., Yannis G., (2024) “The HADRIAN novel human–machine interface prototype for automated driving: safety and impact assessment”, European Transport Research Review 16, 64. 
• Roussou S., Petraki V., Deliali K., Kontaxi A., Yannis G., (2024) “Cost benefit analysis of reducing speed limits in Athens to 30 Km/h”, Case Studies on Transport Policy, 18, 101289. 

Infrastructures Journal has launched the 2nd Edition of the Special Issue titled: “Safer Roads Ahead: Exploring the Latest Innovations and Advancements in Road Design and Safety Technology, 2nd Edition” aiming to showcase recent developments, innovative methodologies, and emerging technologies that contribute to safer and more resilient road infrastructure. The submission deadline is 31 August 2026.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions on innovative approaches to road safety and infrastructure development. Relevant themes include emerging road design strategies, smart and adaptive roadway systems, and advanced safety solutions for vulnerable road users, as well as  data-driven and AI-supported methods for identifying and mitigating crash risks,, and connected and autonomous vehicle technologies. Studies focusing on human factors, behavioural insights, and environmental or climate-resilient road design are likewise encouraged.

Guest editors of this special issue are Dr. Dimitrios Nikolaou and Associate Prof. Panagiotis Papantoniou. 

The World Road Association – PIARC recently published a Report titled “Motorcycle Protection Systems & Safety Aspects Of Management Of Traffic For Motorcycles” responding to the need of protecting one of the most vulnerable road user groups worldwide. The purpose of this Report is to provide evidence-based knowledge, case studies, and recommendations that can support PIARC member countries in addressing motorcyclist safety through both infrastructure measures and traffic management strategies. The scope of the Study includes literature reviews, international surveys, stakeholder interviews, and numerical/experimental analyses with emphasis in low- and middle-income countries.

The World Road Association – PIARC recently published a Report titled “Management of Road Worksites”. This Special Project presents a critical and escalating global challenge: the growing safety, mobility, and environmental burden of road worksites. In response to these challenges, PIARC commissioned this Study to investigate current governance models and best practices from around the world. Its purpose was to synthesise these findings, benchmark capability gaps, and ultimately deliver a framework and practical toolkit. The design integrated a systematic literature review, a global survey, semi-structured interviews and a detailed analysis indicating a clear set of strategic actions necessary to mature global practice. 

A paper titled Evaluating driver preferences between punitive and non-punitive speeding penalties: Results from a stated choice experiment authored by Athanasios Theofilatos, Apostolos Ziakopoulos, Evangelia Stratigi, Pantelis Kopelias and Dimitris Potoglou has been published in Journal of Safety Research. This Paper aims to investigate driver preferences regarding penalties for speeding violations in Greece: (Option A) immediate fines with off-road short detention (administrative process); (Option B) attendance of compulsory road safety seminars; and (Option C) judicial processes with possible dispute of fines in court. Data were collected via a Stated Choice (SC) survey conducted during June and July 2023 in Greece, involving 161 participants resulting in 805 choice situations, and were analyzed by utilizing a random parameter multinomial logit model to capture unobserved heterogeneity among drivers. The results showed that only 4.6% of respondents preferred the judicial process, indicating a strong deterrent effect of potential trial and associated costs. These findings point towards more effective enforcement strategies while balancing penalty costs and duration of compulsory off-road detention and promoting educational-related non-punitive measures. 

A paper titled Cross-cultural perspectives of vulnerable road user safety performance based on evidence from 39 countries authored by George Yannis, Apostolos Ziakopoulos, Dimitrios Nikolaou, Konstantinos Kaselouris, Mette Møller, Dagmara Jankowska-Karpa and Marie-Axelle Granié has been published in IATSS Research. This paper aims to provide a quantified update on VRUs safety performance by analyzing data from a broad-country sample. For this study, data was utilized from the third edition of the E-Survey on Road Users’ Attitudes (ESRA3) survey, which was conducted in 2023, covering 39 countries from 5 continents. A statistical analysis based on Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs) and clustering was conducted to meaningfully categorize VRU groups, enabling the quantification of each category and providing scientific documentation for more informed policymaking. Findings include the fact that VRU safety perceptions and behaviors differ significantly across regions, with Europeans feeling safer overall, with older VRUs displaying fewer risky habits than younger ones. Furthermore, for all VRU modes, statistical tests revealed that there is a statistically significant association between younger individuals and higher-risk cluster categorization. 

A paper titled Analyzing SHAP values of XGBoost algorithms to understand driving features affecting take-over time from vehicle alert to driver action authored by Marios Sekadakis, Thodoris Garefalakis, Peter Moertl and George Yannis has been published in Displays. This Study investigates the factors influencing Take-Over Time (TOT) during transitions from automated to manual driving, emphasizing the novelty of applying XGBoost modeling combined with SHAP analysis to uncover non-linear and implicit dependencies between features. Driving simulation data were utilized as key variables for the analysis. The findings indicate that higher automation levels resulted in longer TOT, with SHAP values consistently positive for AD Level 3, demonstrating the added value of explainable machine learning in clarifying these patterns. Furthermore, dynamic driving parameters, such as deceleration and speed variability were also significant. Speed showed a moderate positive effect on TOT at 80–110 km/h, with drivers taking additional time to assess the environment, but higher speeds (above 110 km/h) resulted in quicker responses. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of takeover behavior and provides actionable evidence for optimizing adaptive HMI design and takeover strategies in AD systems.  

A paper titled In full-touch HMI mode: How does car-following pressure, task complexity, and speed affect driver’s visual distraction characteristics? authored by Kunchen Li, Menglu Gu, Wei Yuan, Yisi Lu and George Yannis has been published in Accident Analysis & Prevention. This paper aims to investigate the effects of interaction tasks and traffic situations on drivers’ visual distraction characteristics in full-touch HMI mode. A total of 50 distinct participants were recruited: 30 took part in a real-road experiment, and 30 participated in a driving simulator experiment, with 10 being in both experiments with a total of 60 participant-sessions. Air volume control, temperature control, and call a contact are selected as typical tasks in each experiment. The results show that the mean off-road glance duration is influenced by the car-following pressure but not by the task. The mean glance duration is lower when the driver is following a vehicle, with an average decrease of 21%. Furthermore, higher speeds lead to a decrease in the total off-road glance duration, where participants tend to reduce the duration of each off-road glance while increasing the number of glances to compensate for the increased risk. The findings  can differentiate the visual demands of various HMI tasks and clarify how drivers adapt their gaze behaviors as driving demands change (e.g., car-following pressure), offering safety-related recommendations for drivers. 

A paper titled Infrastructure use and related safety feeling of different road user types globally authored by George Yannis, Dimitrios Nikolaou, Konstantinos Kaselouris and Gerald Furian has been published in IATSS Research. The objective of this Paper is to investigate trends in road infrastructure usage and safety perceptions among car drivers and vulnerable road users across different types of roads worldwide. For this study, data from the third edition of the E-Survey on Road Users’ Attitudes (ESRA3), conducted in 2023 and covering 39 countries from 5 continents, were utilized. The results revealed that car drivers in Europe have the highest usage of inter-city motorways, while America leads in using thoroughfares and high-speed roads within cities. Moreover, in Europe, rural roads and roads connecting towns and villages are heavily utilized. Furthermore, moderate to weak linear relationships were discovered between the perceived safety of road infrastructure and road fatality rates, as well as between the perceived safety of road infrastructure and Gross Domestic Product. Lastly, recommendations for enhancing infrastructure safety, such as road maintenance and upgrades, are provided. 

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Driving Behavior Analysis Using Connected Vehicle Data” was recently presented by Andreas Englezos. For the purposes of this research, variables related to speed, engine temperature, the anti-lock braking system (ABS), and other driving characteristics were examined. The data were collected over a three-month period to identify different route profiles in terms of driver behavior. From the application of the algorithm, it was found that the variable with the highest importance value was the engine oil temperature. Finally, a Binary Logistic Regression was performed to examine the extent to which the independent variables influence the probability of ABS activation, which showed that the variable with the greatest influence was engine activation.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV, and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Work-related Road Safety Thematic Report which emphasizes on work-related road traffic injuries including crashes at workplaces, during work-related journeys, while some countries also include commuting in their definitions. Work-related travel remains one of the most dangerous activities undertaken by employees across Europe. Official statistics highlight the scale of the problem: in 2022, 3,286 fatal workplace accidents were recorded in the EU, yet these figures underestimate the true impact because many road crashes during work journeys are not classified as workplace fatalities. Furthermore, the transport and storage sector illustrates the disproportionate risk: in 2022, 18.4% of fatal workplace accidents occurred during vehicle operation, with sharp differences between Member States. Moreover, systematic evidence shows that structured work-related safety interventions and countermeasures deliver significant benefits across economic, organizational and social dimensions.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Traffic law Enforcement Thematic Report which defines Traffic Law Enforcement (TLE)  as the entire penal procedure designed to persuade road users to abide by traffic laws and regulations through threat of detection of violation and the imposition of a penalty or other sanction. In a safe road system, both general and targeted TLE are required to limit the occurrence of the safety-critical violations. Within the safe system approach TLE is best combined with other measures to reduce violations. Furthermore, the main types of TLE can be distinguished along three main dimensions: automatic versus manned controls, stationary versus mobile controls, and visible/conspicuous versus less visible/hidden controls. Although enforcement can improve road safety, it remains a challenge to maintain and optimize the effects of TLE.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV, VIAS Institute and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Seniors Thematic Report which considers seniors as those aged 65 years and over. Seniors are most at risk in traffic as pedestrians or cyclists. Seniors form a high proportion of casualties as well as being at significantly greater risk per kilometer travelled, while as drivers, seniors are a greater risk to themselves than to other road users. Furthermore, the highest risk is observed for road users over 75 years of age. This Report highlights the three high crash risk factors as vulnerability, reduced driving and fitness to drive. Moreover, some countermeasures include Passive safety measures, as well as senior training with refresher courses.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Post-crash data Thematic Report which are essential for mapping the care continuum and identifying delays or failures in the chain of survival. This Reports emphasizes that for every fatality, around five people suffer serious injuries with lasting consequences, and the annual economic cost across EU 27 remains high. By capturing data at link – call receipt, dispatch, travel time, on-scene interventions, transport intervals, clinical treatment and rehab – authorities can pinpoint bottlenecks, improve protocols and ensure that all phone-users, including those with disabilities or while roaming, receive timely help. Furthermore, automatic crash notification systems, enhanced mobile-phone location services, and integrated crash-detection functions are some of the countermeasures suggested  in order to create a seamless continuum from detection to definitive care.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV, VIAS Institute and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Personal Mobility Devices Thematic Report which focuses mainly on electric scooters. The vast majority of crashes involving an e-scooter do not involve another road user. However, the most severe casualties (over 80% of e-scooter rider deaths and 50% of trauma patients’ injuries) result from crashes that do involve a heavier motor vehicle. Furthermore, for e-scooters, poor road surface conditions, e-scooter speed, riders under the influence of alcohol or drugs, inexperienced users and lack of helmet use combined with the limited stability and high acceleration of an e-scooter contribute to the cause and severity of injuries.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Pedestrians Thematic Report which highlights that pedestrians comprise just under 20% of all road deaths in the EU, a proportion that has declined slightly over the last decade. The number of pedestrians killed declined by around 30% between 2012 and 2022, while most pedestrian crashes occur in urban areas: pedestrians account for 38% of all road deaths in such areas. Most crashes involving pedestrians occur while crossing the road and frequently at pedestrian crossings which are usually the location at which roads are most often crossed. Moreover, long-term planning countermeasures are needed to produce the fundamental changes that would improve the safety and mobility of vulnerable road users.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Young Novice Drivers Thematic Report which refers to 16-24 year old car drivers. Young European drivers are over-represented as victims of fatal car crashes. In the EU, over the period 2018-2022, on average 1,058 young car drivers (18-24 years of age) died each year in a crash. Lack of experience causes a high crash risk due to underdeveloped higher order driving skills like include hazard perception, risk awareness, and calibration. Young drivers can also be more easily distracted, cannot always resist peer pressure, are more often fatigued and drive at night more often than older drivers. Drink driving occurs almost as often with young drivers as with older ones, but it has a more detrimental effect on their driving capabilities. Furthermore, they drive more often than older drivers under the influence of illegal psychoactive substances such as cannabis.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV, VIAS Institute and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Driver Distraction Thematic Report which highlights driver distraction as a significant risk factor in traffic.  The self-declared prevalence of mobile phone use while driving a car in 22 European countries is 51% for the use of hands-free devices, 22% for handheld mobile phone conversations, and 23% for text reading/checking social media. While the latter two activities are illegal, hands-free phoning is generally not. Recent observations of drivers in 20 European countries found that the percentage of drivers using a handheld mobile device varied among countries and ranged from 2.1% to 15.5%. Furthermore Road-user focused countermeasures include the enforcement of the legal bans on the use of handheld phones (and electronic devices), e.g., with smart cameras, and raising awareness of the risks of distraction in public campaigns and through driver education during licensing.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Cyclists Thematic Report which refers to the safety of cyclists. Cyclists are vulnerable in traffic and constitute the only road user group in the EU where the number of fatalities has not significantly declined in the past decade. In 2023, around 1,950 cyclists died in traffic in the EU with many more seriously injured. Furthermore, fatal cyclist crashes mostly involve motor vehicles accounting for around 70% of the total. Moreover, bicycle crashes are significantly underreported, in particular crashes without the involvement of motorised vehicles. A series of specific countermeasures are suggested, such as separation of cyclists and other road users, low motor speed and wider cycle tracks with no obstacles.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Consequences of Crashes Thematic Report which distinguishes three types of consequences for crashes: physical, psychological, and socio-economic. At EU level, 2.2 million hospital-treated road traffic casualties compare to 1.1 million police-reported ones, indicating a substantial underreporting in police-based crash statistics and an underestimation of the impacts of crashes. Furthermore, studies indicate that about one third of road traffic casualties has self-reported symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), every fifth casualty reports symptoms of depression. Moreover, EU wide, crashes are estimated to generate a total cost of injury of about 353 billion Euro, which burdens both the health system and its financiers.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Alcohol and Drugs Thematic Report which emphasizes that impairment due to alcohol and/or drugs is a major cause of motor vehicle crashes worldwide. It has been estimated that 1.5 to 2% of kilometres travelled in the EU are driven with an illegal blood alcohol concentration. Furthermore, around 25% of all road deaths in the EU are alcohol-related. Moreover,  Recent roadside surveys among randomly stopped drivers in EU-countries show alcohol prevalence rates between 0.3- 2.7% and drug prevalence rates between 6.0 – 11%.  

Together for Safer Roads Global Coalition recently published a Report titled Optimizing Fleets with Telematics presenting key insights on how vehicle telematics can transform fleet safety and reduce crash risks through data-driven interventions. This Report analyzes over 60 million driving trips globally, identifying correlations between telematics-based driver monitoring and significant reductions in risky behaviors such as harsh braking and speeding. Furthermore it emphasizes the value of AI-powered analytics and proactive driver coaching in improving fleet safety performance. 

The European Union has recently adopted the new Directive to modernize EU driving licence rules. The newly adopted rules tackle several road safety issues, including the introduction of digital EU driving licences, driving disqualification, stricter rules for novice drivers and more systematic checks of the fitness to drive. The new Directive also introduces an EU-wide accompanied driving scheme for 17-year-old drivers, a measure that has been proven to significantly improve road safety. Particular emphasis is given on vulnerable road users’ safety, such as pedestrians, cyclists, scooters and other micromobility users.  

The Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move) of the European Commission recently adopted its first Progress Report on the European declaration on cycling, showing strong momentum across the EU to boost cycling infrastructure and policies. The Report confirms cycling’s role as a clean, affordable and health-boosting way to travel. It also highlights the need to improve aspects such as safety, safe parking, cycle logistics, charging in buildings, carriage of bikes on trains, climate-proofing infrastructure and engagement with industry. Cities are stepping up cycling measures to meet the targets of the climate-neutral and smart cities mission. 

In a recently published study conducted at Stanford University (USA), using a range of parameters for each scientist’s research contribution and influence, million Scientists data from Scopus database were analyzed. According to this study 1,074 Greek scientists are contained in the global top 2%, among which 162 Scientists from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). 28 Scientists from the School of Civil Engineering of NTUA are among the top 2% researchers in the world (4 within the top-ten of NTUA) and 8 among the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering (3 within the top-ten of the School of Civil Engineering) 2024: (Eleni Vlahogianni, George Yannis, Konstantinos Gkiotsalitis, Eleonora Papadimitriou, Christina Plati, Apostolos Ziakopoulos) All years: (Matthew Karlaftis†, John Golias). 

A Special Issue titled “Emerging Solutions and Technologies for Smart Mobility and Vehicle Safety in Transportation” has been recently launched on Vehicles Journal, with Guest Editors from NTUA: Dr. Eva Michelaraki and Prof. George Yannis. This Special Issue aims to present cutting-edge research on novel solutions and technological advancements in smart mobility, transportation safety, and intelligent vehicle systems. Contributions that explore data-driven approaches to traffic management, machine learning applications for driver behaviour analysis, crash prediction and prevention strategies, automation in transportation systems, and the role of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) in improving road safety are welcome. Deadline for manuscript submission is until 15 December 2025. Researchers can submit their contributions here. 

Electronics Journal recently launched a Special Issue titled “Automated Driving Systems: Latest Advances and Prospects” aiming to bring together cutting-edge research on the latest developments, emerging trends, and future prospects in automated driving. The manuscript submission deadline is 15 October 2026.

This Special Issue encourages researchers from academia and industry to explore novel methodologies and contribute their latest findings, addressing the challenges and opportunities in the deployment of fully automated driving systems.

Guest editors of this special issue from NTUA are: Dr. Eva Michelaraki and Prof. Dr. George Yannis.