EU Road Safety Exchange – Joint activity 24 – 25 September 2024
A joint EURSE activity focusing on police enforcement and urban road safety took place in Belgium on 24-25 September 2024. Representatives from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Finland, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and Romania participated in mutual learning activities over one and a half days.
On the first day, participants gathered at the police station of the Federal Road Police, Brabant division, to observe how the Belgian police conduct their enforcement control operations. They were given a close-up view of the procedures followed when a driver caught speeding is brought to the police station for further checks, including drink and drug testing. After this demonstration, representatives engaged in discussions with the Belgian police officers and fellow colleagues, sharing national practices and comparing approaches to enforcement and legislative frameworks.
The second day took place in Ghent, recently named Cycling City 2024 in Belgium. Participants received an in-depth presentation on the city’s mobility policies, which have been evolving since the first mobility plan was introduced in 1992. The city has made significant changes toward safer and greener mobility, including expanding cycling infrastructure, implementing safety measures for vulnerable road users, and reducing car traffic in the city center. Peter Vansevenant, former Head of the Mobility Department in Ghent, shared various examples of the city’s initiatives and answered questions from the delegates.
To illustrate these changes in practice, participants were taken on a guided tour of the city. They observed how various mobility policies have transformed Ghent, including key projects such as underground passages for cyclists, expanded sidewalks for pedestrians and individuals with mobility impairments, and the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition to limit through-traffic in the city center.
Participants then returned to the municipality building to wrap up the two-day event. They reflected on the insights gained from the visits and discussed next steps within the project, with upcoming study visits and national workshops foreseen in the months ahead.
The event provided EURSE participating countries with an opportunity to discuss road safety challenges and share their experiences and knowledge. This joint EURSE activity was organised in collaboration with the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport, the Belgian Traffic Police, and the City of Ghent.
More pictures of the event can be found here.