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 12, 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.

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 in collaboration with Global Link, recognizing their excellence in customer experience and responsible service practices. The awards received were Best Mobile Customer Experience and Best Organisation for ESG Factors & Practices in Customer Service. The recognition was based on the SmartMaps digital platform, with the SmartMaps website used as the candidate product. The platform combines data from mobile phone sensors and machine learning algorithms, enabling 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 48th 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. Cyclists often neglect helmet use in particular countries (Thailand, Bosnia), while drug and alcohol consumption while riding is notably high in specific countries as well (Ireland, Thailand, the Netherlands). Furthermore, for all VRU modes, statistical tests revealed that there is a statistically significant association between younger individuals and higher-risk cluster categorization. Finally, the paper provides recommendations for road safety stakeholders operating at different levels, which could be implemented in efforts to enhance VRUs road safety. 

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. Moreover strong negative deceleration values were generally associated with shorter TOT, reflecting quicker responses under urgent braking. 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. By combining methodological innovation with contextual insights, 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. Ten participants took part in both experiments, contributing to 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 21.3%. 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.  

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 April 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. 

Stella Roussou, NTUA PhD Candidate & Researcher, received the Young Researcher Best Paper on Road Safety Award 2025 during the International Congress on Transport Research 2025. The Award is granted jointly by the Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT/CERTH) and the Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers (HITE). The award concerned the paper titled: “Predicting Pedestrian Violations in Urban Intersections Using ANOVA and Poisson Regression ”, co-authored by Roberto Ventura, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis. 

The EU Road Safety Exchange Project of the European Commission and the European Parliament drives adoption of proven road safety measures across Europe with the active contribution of NTUA. The EU-funded Project connected road safety experts from 19 European countries to tackle specific road safety challenges, showcase European best practice and implement practical solutions to save lives on their roads. From safer roads in Lithuania to lower speed limits in Greece, the European knowledge-sharing initiative is helping governments turn successful road safety ideas into action, making faster progress toward the EU’s goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. 

The Council of Ministers of the International Transport Forum (ITF) recently adopted the Policy Recommendation on Comprehensive Road Safety, emphasizing on evidence-based policymaking, improved crash data systems, and risk-based prioritization of interventions where the greatest number of lives can be saved. This Recommendation further calls for safe speed management, stronger compliance and education measures and the accelerated deployment of vehicle safety technologies. ITF also encourages corporate engagement through a Global Road Safety Assessment Framework and highlights the importance of cross-government coordination to achieve lasting safety outcomes and progress toward Vision Zero.  

The European Transport Research Review (ETRR), a leading journal associated with the European Conference of Transport Research Institutes (ECTRI) has launched a new Thematic Collection, titled “Shaping Safer Behaviour: Evidence-Based Approaches in Transport Safety Research”. This Thematic Collection focuses on behavioural research in transport safety, highlighting evidence-based approaches to measure, model, and influence road user behaviour as a means to improve safety in evolving urban and technological contexts. It will bring together contributions that apply advanced tools such as Virtual Reality, Machine Learning, behavioural modelling, and simulation to real-world challenges, including the protection of vulnerable road users, the impacts of urban transformation projects, and the monitoring of safety progress through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Overall, this timely and impactful collection aims to spotlight innovative, data-driven strategies that promote safer mobility across Europe and beyond. Submissions are open until 31 March 2026.  

NTUA organized with great success the “Researcher’s Night” science fair, which took place in Athens, Greece on 26 September 2025. The IVORY project was showcased in this Event, presenting its overall research goals and activities to young students from primary and secondary schools, as well as fellow NTUA and Athens university researchers and faculty. In parallel, the NTUA IVORY DCs had the opportunity to engage with visitors and present their individual doctoral research progress, with several contributions    :

• Julia Porto – Proactive risk mapping and infrastructure safety management
• Aristotelis Tsoutsanis – Data fusion of traffic, behaviour & infrastructure for holistic driver assistance
• Simone Paradiso – AI for road safety monitoring and crash prediction from micro- to macro levels
• Aristotelis Styanidis – Road safety prediction on the basis of ethically sound physiological measurements

The NTUA Road Safety Observatory (www.nrso.ntua.gr) achieved its 20 years of continuous efforts towards scientific evidence in decision making for safer roads everywhere and for all. The nrso scientific team with high dedication, efficiency and expertise continues to grow and excel, with a rich and high quality scientific output of more than 1,000 road safety scientific Papers published (280+ in peer reviewed journals), hundreds of scientific Reports, 750+ presentations in scientific conferences, almost 200 Diploma Theses and 20 PhD dissertations. Over the past two decades, the NRSO portal has steadily expanded its contents, reach, visibility and impact, containing today more than 2.500 road safety items (25+ items per month), attracting over 100,000 pageviews annually, through its wide network of hundreds of Authorities, Research, Industry and Society partners worldwide and the 157 newsletters so far, reaching monthly more than 7.500 road safety experts worldwide. With great thanks to the NRSO dedicated scientists and all our great partners, the exciting journey towards scientific excellence continues … 

The International Road Federation (IRF) released the 62nd edition of the IRF World Road Statistics 2025 (WRS2025), with data open to all for free through the IRF WRS Data Warehouse platform, thanks to the generous support of the TotalEnergies Foundation and Michelin Corporate Foundation. The IRF WRS 2025 continues to be the major comprehensive, universal source of statistical data on road networks, traffic and inland transport, including traffic crashes. This year the WRS 2025 includes the latest data covering years 2018 to 2023, with the active contribution of NTUA for the Greek data. It includes over 200 road and transport-sector related indicators across 11 sections, covering more than 200 countries and territories. 

A paper titled Advancing traffic microsimulation: a systematic review of parameter selection for connected and autonomous vehicles authored by Maria G. Oikonomou, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis has been published in Journal of Simulation. This paper presents a systematic review of 54 studies to consolidate key parameters for modelling Autonomous Vehicles and Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in traffic microscopic simulations. The integration of CAV is anticipated to transform transportation by enhancing traffic flow, safety and system efficiency. By comparing them to those used for human-driven vehicles, valuable insights are provided, including statistical summaries and boxplots, to inform the enhancement of simulation models. The findings provide a resource for researchers, supporting direct integration and refinement of AV/CAV parameters to improve the accuracy and reliability of future traffic simulations. 

The Horizon Europe research project IMPROVA has recently released its 2nd Newsletter, focusing on enhancing road safety by addressing the complexities of long-term consequences (LTC) caused by road traffic crashes. In its first year, IMPROVA has made significant strides in understanding and assessing the LTC of road traffic crashes. These actions align with our core research questions and lay the foundation for innovative tools, methodologies and policy recommendations. 

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “The impact of physical fitness on road safety and driver behaviour on rural roads” was recently presented by Marina Karachalia. For this reason an experimental procedure involving 46 participants aged 19–27 was conducted. The participants were evaluated in terms of their cardiorespiratory fitness through the Maximal Oxygen Uptake index (VO₂max), while also  completing a related questionnaire. VO₂max was calculated based on heart rate (BPM – Beats Per Minute) after recovery from a short physical activity and then were categorized into two fitness groups: high fitness and low fitness, based on established VO₂max classification thresholds. The data was analyzed using linear and logistic regression models. Results suggest that high-fitness drivers have longer reaction times, greater variability in headway distance, higher average speeds, and, conversely, a lower probability of road accident involvement. Overall, higher physical fitness appears to be associated with more stable and controlled driving behavior, which, despite the increased reaction time, may contribute to reduced accident risk through improved decision-making.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Investigation of Illegal Pedestrian Crossings in the Center of Athens” was recently presented by Marianthi Alverti. For this purpose a Stated Preference (SP) survey was structured in order to examine decision-making scenarios based on varying conditions of travel time, perceived crash risk, and personal comfort, with a dataset of of 212 responses. The analysis exploited binary logistic regression to examine the likelihood of illegal crossing, and generalized linear model to investigate the trade-offs pedestrians make between safety, time, and convenience given three different scenarios of camera use, traffic light with timer, and the baseline scenario to choose from. The models highlight the influence of time pressure, traffic conditions, and social components on individual decisions. The findings aim to showcase the importance of pedestrian decisions to prevent the likelihood of a road crash and, in this way, support more behavior-aware policy design, ultimately contributing to safer urban mobility systems.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Investigation of Non-Compliant Pedestrian Crossings at Signalized Intersections Using Computer Vision Techniques” was recently presented by Natalia Mirogianni. To achieve this objective, an advanced video-based detection algorithm using data collected from a high-traffic intersection in Omonoia Square, in Athens was utilized. The dataset included detailed pedestrian and vehicle coordinates and speed characteristics, signal timing, and time-to-collision metric. The analysis consisted logistic regression, random forest classification, and point-biserial correlation to identify significant predictors of non-compliant behaviour and also to compare the effectiveness of the manual field and computer vision algorithm results. The findings contribute to the understanding of pedestrian violations and offer valuable insights for future implementation of automated monitoring systems and policy interventions for safer crosswalks.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “The impact of connected and autonomous vehicles on road safety with use of simulation”  was recently presented by Aikaterini Kalliakoudi. For this purpose an analysis based on simulation data derived from nine scenarios implemented in the city center of Athens was conducted. Additionally, traffic and geometric characteristics of the locations where the conflicts occurred were documented. The statistical analysis was carried out through the development of three models: two multiple linear regression models and one multinomial logistic regression model. The results indicated that the influencing factors for the above variables are related both to traffic composition (e.g., vehicle types) and infrastructure characteristics (e.g., speed limit, capacity). Furthermore, the increase in AV/CAV penetration in the network was found to have a positive impact on road safety, significantly reducing the number of vehicle conflicts.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Factors Influencing Speed Limit Violations on Athens Road Network” was recently presented by Daphne Kyprouli. For this reason data collected by OSeven Telematics and OpenStreetMaps, which includes information such as road geometry indicators, safety measurements and driving behavior metrics were utilized. The analysis consisted statistical models and machine learning algorithms  aiming to predict speeding violations and understand the factors influencing them, with overall ten models created. The results demonstrated that speeding has a statistically significant correlation with various variables and improving driving behavior will consequently lead to a reduction of road crashes. The main factors affecting the likelihood of speeding in the examined road sections are the number of trips, the road section length and the percentage of mobile phone use, while slopes presented the least impact.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Critical factors of self reported behaviour and safety of electric scooter users in Europe” was recently presented by Ibabi Hasim. For this reason statistical models were utilized in order to analyze the factors that lead electric scooter users to engage in dangerous driving behaviors, based on data from the third edition of the international ESRA survey (E-Survey on Road Users’ Attitudes). Findings highlight the importance of factors such as the acceptance of risky behaviors, the existence of legislation, the level of urbanization, and age. Furthermore, mandatory helmet use and stricter rules prove to be particularly effective in reducing violations. Finally, some proposals are provided that could improve the road safety of electric scooter users, such as strengthening the legal framework, stricter enforcement, and infrastructure improvement.  

The Horizon Europe research project CulturalRoad has recently released the CulturalRoad 2^nd 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 announced the release of the Project’s first animated video, a perfect way to learn more about the Project, by presenting its vision for more equitable, inclusive and connected mobility. It also emphasizes on the five key pillars of mobility equity and the Five-Pointed Rating Star System, designed to evaluate the level of equity of CCAM systems within their specific environments. 

Dimitris Nikolaou, Eva Michelaraki, Armira Kontaxi, Julia Roussou, 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. & Yannis G. (2023) A Review of Surrogate Safety Measures Uses in Historical Crash Investigations, Sustainability, 15(9). 
• Michelaraki E., Katrakazas C., Kaiser S., Brijs T. & Yannis G. (2023) Real-time monitoring of driver distraction: state-of-the-art and future insights, Accident Analysis and Prevention, Volume 193. 
• Kontaxi A., Tzoutzoulis D., Ziakopoulos A. & Yannis G. (2023) Exploring speeding behavior using naturalistic car driving data from smartphones, Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering,10(6). 
• Nikolaou D., Ziakopoulos A., Dragomanovits A., Roussou J. & Yannis G. (2023) Comparing Machine Learning Techniques for Predictions of Motorway Segment Crash Risk Level, Safety, Volume 9(2), Issue 32. 
• Oikonomou G. M., Ziakopoulos A., Chaudhry A., Thomas P. & Yannis G. (2023) From conflicts to crashes: Simulating macroscopic connected and automated driving vehicle safety, Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 187. 
• Sekadakis M., Katrakazas C., Michelaraki E., Ziakopoulos A. & Yannis G. (2023) COVID-19 and driving behavior: Which were the most crucial influencing factors, Data Science for Transportation, 16(5).  
• Roussou S., Garefalakis T., Michelaraki E., Katrakazas C., Adnan M., Khattak M., Brijs T. & Yannis G. (2023) Examination of the Effect of Task Complexity and Coping Capacity on Driving Risk: A Cross-Country and Transportation Mode Comparative Study, Sensors 2023, 23(24). 

A paper titled Safety contributing factors analysis of older vulnerable road users: General and local perspectives authored by Xueyu Zhang, Xueson Wang, Mohamed Abdel-Aty, George Yannis and Guangzhu Luo has been published in Accident Analysis & Prevention. This paper utilizes an analytic approach to explore the effects of contributing factors for older vulnerable road users’ (VRUs) crashes, with particular attention to the integration of general and local analysis. Socio-economic, road network, public facility, traffic enforcement and older VRU crashes were collected in the grids and gradient tree-boosted Tweedie compound Poisson models as well as geographically weighted random forests were employed. The findings suggest that population and healthcare played an important role in predicting older VRU crashes. The concentration areas for older people, including healthcare facilities, markets, and bus stops, demonstrate that improvement countermeasures should adapt to local conditions. 

NTUA has recently released the 2025 version of Key Road Safety Performance Indicators in Greece in the framework of the EU project Trendline. These KPIs are derived from nationwide field observations in 2025 on four key Road Safety Performance Indicators (KPIs): speed, seatbelt use, helmet use, and driver distraction. Key findings show that only 71% of vehicles on rural roads complied with speed limits (less than in 2022), seatbelt use among rear passengers remained as low as 57%, helmet use increased for both front (85%) and rear riders (60%) and mobile phone use increased on rural roads (12%). These results provide valuable evidence for targeted road safety interventions and the future alignment of Greece with national and EU safety targets.

A paper titled Trajectory-based indicators to determine the local character of intersection conflicts: A micro-spatial analysis authored by Andreas Hula, Apostolos Ziakopoulos, Angel Losada, Andrea Schaub, Peter Saleh and George Yannis has been published in Accident Analysis & Prevention. This paper utilizes the Mobility Observation Box (MOB), which provides a flexible data collection to be used in subsequent video analysis. To facilitate potential MOB uses, this study leverages over 51 h of naturalistic video data at a busy Vienna intersection to advance road safety research, by employing random parameters binary modelling of the likelihood of critical conflict occurrence and Gaussian generalized additive spatial modelling to identify key factors influencing the absolute values of conflict angles on critical conflicts only. The findings suggest that all road user types were ultimately less likely to be involved in safety–critical conflicts compared to cars in both leading and following roles, with the exception of cyclists in the leading role. Within the micro-spatial analysis, the kinematic parameters of the second road user only (speed, max acceleration and max deceleration), the duration of the interaction as well as intersection-specific local effects related to the position of the leading road user were all found to influence the transformed absolute value of the angles of critical conflicts. 

A new book titled The Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Urban Transport edited by Lucy Budd, Stephen Ison and Maria Attard has been recently published. This Handbook offers a comprehensive exploration of urban transport sectors, as well as the challenges, impacts and issues being faced. Furthermore, this Monograph exploits technical, social and economic solutions for sustainable urban transport. NTUA actively contributed with the following chapter, co-authored by George Yannis and Eleonora Papadimitriou:

•  Traveller and driver safety in an urban context

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs announced the first ever UN Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026 – 2035 starting in 2026. The Implementation Plan of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport is expected to serve as a strategic framework to coordinate actions, mobilize resources, and monitor progress towards sustainable transport worldwide. It will be an opportunity to further raise awareness of transport’s crucial role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and to gather and rally new solutions, resources and partnerships to advance sustainable transport globally. Ensuring safety in sustainable transport is essential to protect lives, reduce crashes and build trust, resilience and reliable in transport systems. 

The World Bank Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) together with SSATP has published the 2025 Status Report on Road Safety in Africa analyzing findings for road safety on the African continent. The 2025 Africa Status Report on Road Safety reveals that, despite having only 3% of the global vehicle fleet, Africa accounts for 24% of global road fatalities with 259,601 deaths annually. This highlights the urgent need for safer pedestrian and cycling facilities to protect vulnerable road users.  

The ETSC Annual Report 2024, highlights a year of impactful advocacy and cross-border collaboration in the pursuit of safer roads across Europe. From championing 30 km/h urban speed limits and tackling loopholes in EU vehicle safety regulations, to supporting EU Member States through the EU-funded Road Safety Exchange programme, ETSC continues to be a leading voice for road safety in Europe. The Report also celebrates milestones such as Finland’s PIN Award for outstanding progress on road safety, the #IWillBeALifesaver campaign, and award-winning educational initiative LEARN!   

The UN Road Safety Fund continues to support low and middle-income countries to do that by providing road safety expertise to close gaps on road safety data, enforcement practices, vehicle safety, legislative frameworks, post-crash care, urban street design, among other topics. This UNRSF 2024 Annual Report highlights how collective efforts are saving lives and driving systemic change in road safety.

The Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) works with Governments and communities to prevent road crashes, deaths and injuries. Since 2007, the initiative has helped implement proven road safety interventions across 22 countries. Currently, the initiative is supporting work in 27 cities and two states across 15 low- and middle-income countries. Its Resources Hub includes case studies and guidance focusing on five areas: strengthening legislation and leadership, enhancing data collection and surveillance, changing road user behavior with media campaigns and enhanced enforcement, improving road infrastructure and advancing vehicle safety. 

The Horizon Europe research project metaCCAZE has recently released a new Blog Post authored by George Yannis on the new Greek Road Traffic Code. The new Road Traffic Code introduces city-wide 30 km/h speed limit in all urban streets of one or two directions with a single lane per direction, making Greece the second EU country after Spain to implement such a measure. It is also rationalising and simplifying penalties and linking them to the offences’ seriousness and magnitude. Furthermore it introduces a number of correct and necessary traffic management provisions with emphasis on motorcycles and the 30km/h speed limit in cities. 

The Horizon 2020 research project PHOEBE has recently released the PHOEBE 5th 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. Particular attention was given to the conclusion of the Project’s model development for the safety of vulnerable road users and the safety use case implementation. 

A paper titled Investigating the impact of in-vehicle warning information complexity on drivers: The role of working memory capacity and cognitive load authored by Kunchen Li, Wei Yuan, George Yannis, Fuwei Wu and Chang Wang has been published in Accident Analysis & Prevention. This Paper investigates the impact of the complexity of the warning messages on the behavior and physiological states of the driver, taking into account individual differences in working memory capacity and cognitive load levels. A total of 37 participants were recruited to conduct a mixed design driving simulation experiment, with working memory capacity treated as a between-subjects factor. The analysis included correlation as well as a Generalized Linear Mixed-effects Model (GLMM). The findings suggest that visually rich warnings lead to increased braking reaction times, especially between drivers having low working memory capacity and under high cognitive load. These findings offer theoretical insights to assist manufacturers in designing human-centered, personalized, and adaptive in-vehicle warning systems. 

The European Commission is organising the TRAVisions competitions for transport research awards to be announced in a prestigious award ceremony within the Transport Research Arena Conference (TRA) on 18-21 May 2026 in Budapest (abstract submission deadline: 30/6/2025): 

• TRAVisions 2026 Young Researcher Competition, is aimed at University and Technical Institute students pursuing bachelor, master and PhD degrees 
• TRAVisions 2026 Senior Researcher Competition, a competition for Senior Researchers in the field of innovative surface transport concepts based on results only from EU-funded projects 

The International Road Traffic Safety Analysis and Data (IRTAD) Group of  the International Transport Forum (ITF) has recently launched a new and highly useful interactive Road Safety Dashboard, showcasing up-to-date crash and mortality data from 35 IRTAD member countries. This Dashboard is exploiting the long-standing IRTAD database, with data collected directly from relevant national data providers. This data includes county strategies and targets, road fatality data from 2013 to 2023 with country comparisons and country profiles with road fatalities by user group and mortality rate by age. 

The European Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures (ASECAP) is organizing for the third year a European day awareness Campaign on 25 June 2025, to draw public attention on safety of staff working on motorways. This Campaign titled “Strengthening Patroller Safety on European Roads” aims to take a European dimension supported throughout the network operated by ASECAP members. This year, with the engagement of new concessionaires and countries, the Campaign aims to go even further – promoting mutual respect, empathy, and concrete action between all road users.  

EIT Urban Mobility has just published the EIT Urban Mobility Academic Research Board Annual Report: Strategic Research Priorities and Gaps, with the active contribution of NTUA. This Report outlines key challenges in urban mobility across Europe and highlights five core priority areas: economic productivity, resilience and adaptation, decarbonization, health and safety, and accessibility and inclusion. The Report presents a high-level perspective on knowledge gaps and future research priorities which are examined in the context of societal goals, systemic pressures, and critical policy levers, bringing together leading researchers from across Europe and beyond. 

A paper titled Mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease dementia, and predictors of driving cessation: A 7-year longitudinal prospective study authored by Petros Stamatelos, Ion Beratis, Panagiota Hatzaki, Alexandra Economou, Nikolaos Andronas, Dimosthenis Pavlou, Stella Fragkiadaki, Dionysia Kontaxopoulou, Anastasios Bonakis, Leonidas Stefanis, George Yannis and Sokratis Papageorgiou has been published in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. This paper aims to identify predictors of driving cessation among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild Alzheimer’s disease dementia (AD). The 109 participants underwent a neurological, neuropsychological and driving simulator assessment with re-evaluations after 48 and 84 months including a structured interview with the patients and their caregiver. Primary endpoints were driving cessation, death and progression to dementia. The findings suggest that age, SVF and mTWT are significant predictors of driving cessation among MCI and AD patients. Furthermore, driving simulator may be a promising component of driving evaluation. 

A paper titled Exploring the impact of driver feedback on safety: A systematic review of studies in real-world driving conditions authored by Armira Kontaxi, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis has been published in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. This study systematically investigates the role of driver feedback towards improving driving behavior, by utilizing the PRISMA framework and by reviewing 34 studies. The studies are analyzed in terms of their experimental frameworks, including sample sizes, feedback delivery methods, and feedback phases, along with statistical models employed to assess the impact of feedback on driving behavior and road safety. The findings suggest that driver feedback can significantly reduce crash risks and improve driving behavior, but further research is required to explore its long-term effects and broader applicability. 

The fourth edition of Road Safety Manual (RSM) developed by the World Road Association (PIARC) is now available. It is designed to help countries at every stage of infrastructure development to fulfil road safety objectives and it is aligned with key pillars for the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030: Pillar 1: Multimodal transport and land use planning, Pillar 2: Safe Road Infrastrucure and Pillar 4: Safe Road Use. This comprehensive resource builds on the broad range of knowledge and experience provided by PIARC in the previous editions. It includes new thinking on road safety and offers a clear argument on why adopting a Safe System approach is crucial for all countries. 

The Foundation VINCI Autoroutes has recently published the results of the 15^th Euro-Barometer for Responsible Driving by Ipsos, 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 (82%) that use their mobile phone during driving in Europe (EU average 77%). Furthermore, most of the Greek drivers (81%) admits exceeding the speed limit by a few km/h. In addition, 40% of drivers in Greece admitted continuing driving even when they feel tired, whereas the respective EU average is 32%. 

A paper titled Eco-driving in rural areas: a sustainable approach to reducing emissions and enhancing road safety authored by  Marios Sekadakis, Penny Kourenti, Thodoris Garefalakis, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis has been published in Case Studies on Transport Policy. This study aims to examine the advantages of eco-driving in rural and mountainous rural settings by employing an experimental methodology and utilizing data collected from 39 participants across a range of driving simulation scenarios and their characteristics through a questionnaire survey. To achieve this goal linear and logistic regression models were implemented. The analysis revealed that eco-driving significantly reduces pollutant emissions reduces fuel consumption by 7%, and reduces the probability of crashes by 66.2%. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis confirmed that mountainous rural networks, due to their topographical complexity, are associated with higher emissions, increased fuel consumption, and elevated crash risk compared to flatter rural environments, highlighting the need for terrain-specific eco-driving strategies. These findings highlight the promise of eco-driving practices in improving environmental sustainability and safety, particularly in rural environments. 

A paper titled Systematic review and meta-analysis of take-over time from automated driving at SAE levels 2 and 3 to manual control authored by Marios Sekadakis and George Yannis has been published in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour.  This study systematically investigates how Take-Over Time (TOT) is affected by road environments, traffic volumes , SAE levels, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) designs and Take-Over Requests (TORs) alerts, utilizing the the PRISMA framework, by reviewing 51 studies. Meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were conducted to quantify the effects of key factors on TOT. Findings suggest significant correlations between shorter TOT and higher maximum longitudinal and lateral accelerations, greater lane variability, and a moderate increase in crash rates, highlighting potential safety concerns. This study highlights the critical role of adaptive systems tailored to specific driving contexts, road conditions, and automation levels. 

A paper titled Quantifying the impact of COVID-19 on driving behavior and mobility patterns: A four-country comparative overview authored by Eva Michelaraki, Marios Sekadakis, Christos Katrakazas, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis has been published in Case Studies on Transport Policy  The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of COVID- 19 on driving behavior, mobility patterns and road safety through the exploitation of data from sensors via a smartphone application developed by OSeven Telematics. To achieve this goal a random dataset from its database for four countries (i.e. Greece, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and Brazil) was collected and analyzed, utilizing a logistic regression model. The results revealed that speeding percentage, average driving speed, as well as harsh events (except for Cyprus) were increased during the lockdown period. Moreover, a significant decrease in traffic volumes and numbers of people walking in each country was demonstrated during the pandemic. These findings highlighted the need for enhanced traffic law enforcement, smart traffic management solutions and sustainable mobility planning to mitigate the heightened road safety risks observed during lockdown periods. 

The Horizon Europe research project metaCCAZE has recently released the metaCCAZE 3rd Newsletter, which provides information on the latest outcomes of the EU-funded metaCCAZE project aiming to accelerate the deployment of smart systems that combine electric, automated and connected technologies and infrastructure, enabling zero-emission shared mobility services for both passengers and goods in European cities. This version of the Newsletter celebrates the 2^nd year of the EU-funded project, marking a key turning point: the spotlight is now equally on the Follower Cities—Athens, Gozo, Kraków, Milan, Miskolc, and Poissy in Yvelines, part of the Paris Region. Each city brings its own challenges, priorities, and ambitions—from Milan’s suburban e-pod mobility concept to Gozo’s autonomous shuttle, and Athens’ integration of electric buses using AI-supported planning. The diversity across these urban environments provides a proving ground for scalable, people-centred mobility solutions. 

The Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move) of the European Commission recently published a Report to address the critical need for Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPAs) for professional drivers across the European Union, focusing on their availability, security standards, and development potential. This Report highlights persistent challenges in the road transport sector, including driver shortages, inadequate parking infrastructure, and security concerns, which hinder the sector’s operational efficiency and driver well-being. To address this issue, the Study recommends strategic investments, including the rapid upgrade and certification of existing parking areas that already meet the required safety and security standards. Furthermore, this Report highlights that improved connectivity and digitalisation are essential drivers for making SSPAs more accessible and attractive.  

The Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move) of the European Commission announced updated rules for safer roads, less air pollution and digital vehicle documents. The new rules will take into account the growing presence of electric vehicles and adapt to emerging technologies. They will introduce enhanced inspections, including periodic technical inspections for electric vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems, annual inspections for older cars and vans, and advanced emission testing methods to detect high-emitting vehicles to reduce fine particles pollution. The proposed changes reflect the EU’s commitment to safe and sustainable mobility while ensuring the free movement of people and goods. Between 2026 and 2050, it is estimated that these proposals will save around 7,000 lives and prevent around 65,000 serious injuries. 

A paper titled Laboratory of Traffic Engineering authored by  Lv Yisheng , George Yannis and Eleni Vlahogianni, has been published in IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Magazine. This paper focuses on the Laboratory of Traffic Engineering of NTUA (LTE), established in 1998. The mission of the NTUA LTE is to provide scientists and engineers with a high level of education and to promote research in the field of traffic engineering. The LTE’s educational and research activities are characterized by high innovation, excellent organization, and great utility for society. The LTE contributes to a vast spectrum of scientific fields, including predictive traffic management, road safety, and connected and cooperative automated mobility (CCAM). Some of the indicative Projects of LTE are: DIT4TRAM, PHOEBE, IMPROVA, FRODDO and SHOW. 

A paper titled Investigation of hit-and-run crash severity through explainable machine learning authored by Stella Roussou, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis, has been published in Transportation Letters. This study, uses a 5-year dataset from Victoria, Australia and analyzed with CatBoost algorithms and SHAP values using explainable machine learning techniques, to highlight key severity factors. Findings suggest that the presence of police at the crash scene emerges as the most critical determinant, underscoring the importance of law enforcement in mitigating severe crash outcomes. Furthermore crashes involving passenger vehicles and those on weekends were also linked to higher severity. These novel findings offer valuable insights for targeted interventions and policy-making to mitigate the impact of severe hit-and-run crashes and enhance road safety. 

A paper titled Analyzing the safety effects of different operating speeds for an autonomous shuttle bus service authored by Maria Oikonomou, Marios Sekadakis, Christos Katrakazas and George Yannis has been published in Traffic Safety Research. This study utilizes microscopic simulation analysis in order to quantify the impact of road safety of an automated shuttle bus service within traffic. In the traffic network of Villaverde, Madrid, several scenarios were simulated using the Aimsun software considering the various CAV MPRs and the different operational speeds of the service, namely 15, 30, and 45 km/h. The analysis revealed that the conflict frequency is lower when the shuttle bus operates at 45 or 30 km/h compared to 15 km/h, with the 45 km/h speed showing the largest reduction. This reduction in conflicts is probably due to the shuttle bus adapting more easily to the average traffic speed and is more synchronized with traffic flow. The current study establishes a solid relationship for the conflict frequency of AV shuttles enabling stakeholders to optimize road safety towards a future of automated traffic. 

The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) together with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) have launched “Learn – Ride – Enjoy – Repeat”, a European-wide Campaign designed to encourage novice and experienced riders to take high-quality voluntary motorcycle training. This Campaign aims to inspire European riders to take the next step in their journey by enrolling in certified training programmes, ensuring more riders have access to advanced tools and knowledge to enjoy motorcycling safely and responsibly. The Campaign builds on the success of the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label – voluntary certification of high-quality post-license training courses across Europe. As motorcycling continues to serve as a key mobility and leisure tool for millions across Europe, improving rider safety remains a top priority.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Traffic Safety Culture Thematic Report which emphasizes on growing a positive Traffic Safety Culture (TSC). This Thematic Report highlights that TSC encompasses shared values, norms, and attitudes that impact behaviours across the road system, influencing not only individual road users but also key stakeholders such as public authorities, private companies, NGOs, vehicle manufacturers, and infrastructure designers. An important way to leverage TSC as a concept to improve road safety is through organisations and companies, also preventive efforts to tackle risk behaviours should be made, ideally by focusing on long-term behavioural change.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV, VIAS Institute and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Professional Drivers Thematic Report which mainly refers to the safety of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and buses. This Thematic Report highlights that the safety of HGVs and buses are significantly influenced by road infrastructure due to their unique characteristics such as mass, maneuverability, and acceleration/deceleration capabilities, as well as the fatigue and distraction of the drivers. Furthermore, countermeasures about separating these heavy vehicles from other road users, providing professional drivers with timely warnings about hazardous or restricted road sections and addressing the need for adequate and well-managed overnight parking facilities for HGVs are suggested.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Children Safety Thematic Report which refers to the safety of children. This Thematic Report highlights that children are, along with elderly people, the most vulnerable road users with boys being most at risk due to greater exposure and risk-taking behaviour. Moreover, a series of specific countermeasures are suggested, such as road infrastructure that prioritizes vulnerable users, 30 km/h zones around childcare facilities, mandatory protective equipment, the enhancement of active and passive vehicle safety, traffic laws with strict penalties, as well as better Traffic Safety and Mobility education in schools.  

The European Commission published collision matrices of fatalities in the EU by road user and area type (urban, rural, total). The available EU-wide data for 2023 contained in the CARE database, demonstrate that 38% of road traffic fatalities occurred in urban areas, with vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, users of powered two-wheelers and personal mobility devices) representing almost 70% of total fatalities. Furthermore 52% of road traffic fatalities occurred in rural areas, with vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooters and users of powered two-wheelers) representing almost 36% of total fatalities. These collision matrices provide highly useful insight on road crash causes, exploited for appropriate EU policies and actions.    

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has published the 48th PIN Flash Report titled “Reducing Serious Injuries on European Roads“. This Report examines the underreporting of serious injuries in European roads. According to official sources, approximately 1,291,000 people are reported injured annually in the European Union, with 141,000 of these injuries being serious. While most serious injuries are suffered as a result of collisions involving motor vehicles and are much more likely to be reported by police, many involving pedestrians and cyclists where no motor vehicle was involved go unreported. The current performance in the European Union is not on track for reaching the target to reduce serious road traffic injuries by 50% between 2020 and 2030 and further action targeting serious injuries reduction is needed.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Annual Statistical Report on Road Safety, April 2025 in the EU, which provides an overview of crash data for 2013 to 2023 from 27 EU Member States and the four EFTA countries. According to this Report, 53% of road traffic fatalities occurred on rural roads, versus 38% in urban areas and 9% on motorways. It was also revealed that car occupants (drivers and passengers) represented 44% of all fatalities, while pedestrians accounted for 18%, users of powered two-wheelers (motorbikes and mopeds) 17%, and cyclists 10%.  

A paper titled Identifying driving profiles after take over request in automated vehicles at SAE levels 2 and 3 authored by Marios Sekadakis, Sandra Trösterer, Peter Moertl and George Yannis has been published in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. The analysis included clustering to develop distinct driving profiles based on key measurements collected through a driving simulator experiment, such as acceleration, deceleration, and speed, offering a deep understanding of driver behavior in responses to take over requests. Findings suggest that the nervous driving profile, although less frequent, poses significant safety implications due to higher deceleration rates and variability in speed and deceleration. The study also highlights that non-driving related tasks increase the need for longer take over time with greater variability observed at higher automation levels. These insights can inform the design of more adaptive HMI systems, enhance real-time feedback mechanisms, and improve driver training programs to ensure safer transitions during take over requests. 

A paper titled Evaluating the Environmental and Safety Impacts of Eco-Driving in Urban and Highway Environments authored by Marios Sekadakis, Maria Ioanna Sousouni, Thodoris Garefalakis, Maria Oikonomou, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis has been published in Sustainability. Within a group of 39 participants aged 18–30, multiple driving scenarios were conducted, both without and with eco-driving guides, to assess the impact of eco-driving behavior on environmental sustainability and safety outcomes. Data on pollutant emissions, as well as crash probability were utilized using linear regression models, while binary logistic regression models were employed to assess crash probability. The analysis revealed thateco-driving led to a significant reduction in pollutant emissions, with CO₂ emissions decreasing by 1.42%, CO by 98.2%, and NO_x by 20.7% across both urban and highway environments, with a more substantial impact in urban settings due to lower average speeds and smoother driving patterns. These findings support the integration of eco-driving techniques into transportation policies and driver education programs to foster sustainable and safer driving practices. 

A paper titled Examining the effects of texting, web surfing, and navigating apps on urban driving behavior and crash risk authored by Maria Oikonomou, Foteini Orfanou, Marios Sekadakis, Dimosthenis Pavlou and George Yannis has been published in Traffic Safety Research. This study exploited data from 36 young adult drivers through a driving simulator experiment, supplemented by a survey to gather participant characteristics and driving profiles. Data analysis utilized linear and binary logistic mixed models to explore the effects of texting and web surfing on speed and its deviation, headway distance and its deviation, and crash risk. Results indicate that using texting, web surfing and navigating applications while driving elevate crash risk by 10% and decrease speed, speed deviation, headway, and headway deviation by 9%, 23%, 6%, and 18%, respectively. 

A paper titled Using computer vision and street-level videos for pedestrian-vehicle tracking and behaviour analysis, authored by Roberto Ventura, Stella Roussou, Apostolos Ziakopoulos, Benedetto Barabino and George Yannis has been published in Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Using advanced computer vision object detection and featuring extraction models, this framework integrates Kalman filtering, homography transformations, and object re-identification to achieve high accuracy. This study utilizes data from roadside video recordings from Athens, Greece. The findings show accuracy rates of 50%-70% in detecting traffic light statuses and identified a 23% discrepancy on average between manual and automated counts of illegal crossings. This paper underscores the potential of computer vision detection systems to provide reliable, real-time data that takes the road network conditions into account, ultimately contributing to safer urban traffic management and informed policy decisions. 

The European Road Safety Charter of the European Commission, has recently published a new Article focusing on helmet use and seatbelt/child restraint systems, aiming to increase the attention to theis use. Studies suggest that when cycling, helmet use reduces the risk of serious head injury by 60% and fatal head injury by 71%, also according to the WHO, wearing a quality motorbike helmet reduces the risk of death by over six times and the risk of brain injury by up to 74%. Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death and injury by around 60% for drivers and 44% for rear-seat passengers. Correct use of a child restraint system reduces the risk of being killed or injured by around 55% to 60% compared with children who are not buckled up.