EU-Funded Road Safety Exchange Project Expands to 19 Countries, Wins Prestigious Prince Michael Road Safety Award

The groundbreaking EU-funded Road Safety Exchange project, celebrated as a catalyst for life-saving initiatives across Europe, is poised for expansion, encompassing 19 countries in its mission to fast-track road safety improvements. Today, against the backdrop of the successes of the three-year pilot project, including the adoption of Dutch-inspired cycling infrastructure improvements in Lithuania, harmonised day and nighttime urban speed limits in Poland, and the announcement of robust national road safety strategies in Greece and Portugal, this transformative project embarks on its second phase with an inaugural event in Brussels.

A three-year commitment to safer roads

The Road Safety Exchange project, an initiative funded by the European Parliament and managed by the European Transport Safety Council on behalf of the European Commission, stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. It brings together the expertise of national representatives from EU Member States, a partnership extended to span the next three years.

Project honoured with international award

Today, the project partners are delighted to announce that the Road Safety Exchange project has garnered one of the highest accolades in the field – a prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, presented by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent. This recognition underscores the project’s impact on enhancing road safety, and the award ceremony, hosted by His Royal Highness, is scheduled for December in London.

Learning from the best

Teams of specialists from the participating countries are poised to join forces in a series of immersive study visits and collaborative meetings, providing firsthand exposure to best practices in road safety. The project’s initial phase encompassed critical areas such as speed management, drink and drug driving prevention, cyclist and pedestrian safety, and data collection.

Participants have also had the chance to witness cutting-edge road safety enforcement technologies, such as the pioneering use of artificial intelligence-based cameras to detect hand-held mobile phone use while driving in the Netherlands. In Ireland, experts observed roadside testing for drug use, while in Sweden, they delved into the integration of medical data with police-generated statistics, offering policymakers a more accurate understanding of key road safety challenges.

A shared commitment

European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean commented:

“I welcome that the EU Road Safety Exchange project is being relaunched for another three years. It is an example of European cooperation, uniting experts from nineteen Member States with a shared dedication to exchanging knowledge, ideas, and technology to save lives on our roads.”

Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council, which oversees the project, said:

“This project thrives on immersing experts and policymakers in real-life road safety solutions. From cycling through the Netherlands’ urban cycle lane network to touring France’s national traffic camera enforcement centre, there’s no substitute for firsthand experience. “

Congratulating the project partners, HRH Prince Michael of Kent said:

“In 2012 I was very pleased that the ETSC was among my award winners for their Road Safety Performance Index. That is why I am very pleased to present a second award to the ETSC this year, alongside the European Commission and Parliament, for their innovative EU Road Safety Exchange.”

Follow the launch event online from 14.00 CEST on Zoom.