EU project drives adoption of proven road safety measures across Europe
From safer roads in Lithuania to lower speed limits in Greece, a European knowledge-sharing initiative is helping governments turn successful road safety ideas into action – and its results will be showcased today at a conference in Brussels.
The EU-funded Road Safety Exchange 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.
Since 2019, the project has paired countries seeking to strengthen their road safety with well-performing EU partners through study visits, workshops and mentoring. In its second phase (2023–2025), the project expanded to involve 19 countries, with nine receiving tailored support: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, and Romania.
Proven results across Europe
Inspired by its partnership with Sweden, Lithuania has adopted the Vision Zero philosophy in all aspects of their road safety work. After a study visit on safe infrastructure and 2+1 road design, Lithuania is taking action by building the first 2+1 road, a model proven to reduce head-on crashes, starting with the Vilnius-Utena route.
Greece and Romania are each establishing automated systems for processing traffic fines, inspired by those observed in Rennes, France, and León, Spain, during both phases of the project.
Poland, drawing on the Danish model, is reforming its approach to road safety education, to ensure schools prioritise road safety and apply consistent evaluation mechanisms.
Greece has also passed new legislation to lower urban speed limits to 30 km/h in key areas and improve motorcyclist safety – including advance stop areas at junctions – following examples from Spain.
“The Road Safety Exchange is a brilliant example of practical and effective cooperation between EU Member States,” said Kristian Schmidt, Director for Land Transport at the European Commission and EU Road Safety Coordinator. “By sharing proven approaches and adapting them locally, countries can make faster progress toward the EU’s goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.”
Sharing lessons for the future
Today, representatives from all 19 participating countries are meeting in Brussels to mark the close of this phase of the project and share the lessons learned. The conference brings together policymakers, national experts, and road safety stakeholders to highlight results and discuss how the exchange model can continue supporting Vision Zero goals across Europe.
The EU Road Safety Exchange project is funded by the European Parliament and led by the European Commission, with coordination by the European Transport Safety Council. A third phase of the programme, funded under the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility, is set to get underway by the end of this year.