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 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. 

The National Technical University of Athens has recently released a Guide for Safe Driving providing practical advice for drivers and riders in order to prevent key crash causes: speeding, seat-belt, helmet, mobile phone use, drink-and-drive, fatigue and adverse weather conditions. This Guide suggests summary knowledge on these key crash risk factors together with highly useful recommendations in order to promote safe driving behaviour and develop a continuously improving road safety culture.    

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, VIAS Institute 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, VIAS Institute and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Children 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 collects driving 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. These findings underscore the crucial role of specific smartphone applications in shaping driving behavior and emphasize the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the associated risks in urban driving scenarios. 

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “The impact of alcohol consumption on driving in rural roads using a driving simulator” was recently presented by Giorgos Papadakis. For this purpose, a driving simulation experiment was conducted with 35 drivers of different characteristics, who were required to drive under varying blood alcohol concentration levels. Additionally, data were collected through questionnaires, including demographic characteristics, driving habits, and perceptions regarding alcohol-impaired driving. Data analysis was performed using statistical and mathematical models, such as linear regression and binary logistic regression, revealing that increased BAC leads to a longer reaction time, higher accident probability, and reduced ability to maintain a safe distance from the preceding vehicle. The results confirm the significant impact of alcohol consumption on driving safety and emphasize the necessity of additional preventive measures.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Predicting driver behaviour in a cross-country naturalistic driving study using machine learning techniques” was recently presented by Giannis Roukos. For this reason, valuable data on driver behavior were collected through a driving experiment conducted under real-world conditions in Belgium and the United Kingdom. In the initial analysis, the importance of the variables was calculated using the “Random Forest” algorithm, based on which nine input variables were selected for further analysis. Findings suggest that the average speed of the vehicle was identified was the most significant variable, while sudden driving events, including both harsh acceleration and harsh braking, were found to significantly influence the classification of driving behavior as dangerous.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Cost-benefit analysis of reducing speed limits on Greek highways” was recently presented by Michalis Nikolaou. For this reason, participants evaluated choices based on travel time, fuel consumption, and accident risk. Three scenarios were analyzed: (I) reducing the speed limit from 130 to 120 km/h, (II) reducing it to 110 km/h, and (III) no change, using binary and multinomial logistic regression models. To assess economic viability, a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) was conducted for the period 2023-2033. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, offering an in-depth understanding of public perception and acceptance of lower speed limits, which is crucial for developing effective and widely accepted road safety interventions in Greece.  

According to the European Commission preliminary statistics, fewer people died on European roads in 2024, a slight 3% drop compared to 2023,  which is the equivalent to 600 fewer lives lost. In 2024, around 19,800 people were killed in road crashes in the EU. Over the past five years, Greece, Spain, France, and Italy have seen only modest declines in road deaths; in contrast, Bulgaria, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovenia are making strong progress toward the 50% reduction target. Even if road fatalities decreased more significantly in 2024 than they did in 2023, the overall pace of improvement remains too slow, and most Member States are not on track to meet the EU’s goal of halving road deaths by 2030. 

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 feature 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. 

UNRSF at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, which was held at Morocco, Marrakesh on 18-20 February,  reaffirmed their commitment to making roads safer. This event mobilised critical funding to support life-saving road safety initiatives in over 125 low and middle income countries facing the highest road crash fatalities. In line with its mission to drive systemic changes in road safety, the UNRSF announced eight new projects, tackling key road safety challenges, from strengthening motorcycle safety laws and sustainable financing to improving enforcement and protecting vulnerable road users.