Τhe European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) recently published a new Report titled “Improving the Road Safety of E-scooters“. This Report calls for the development of mandatory technical requirements for all e-scooters sold in the European Union, highlighting the need for stronger road safety measures across Europe. Key recommendations include stricter e-scooter safety standards, such as a 20 km/h speed limit, to address rising urban safety concerns. Enhanced regulations aim to ensure safer roads for all users. 
The International Road Traffic Safety Analysis and Data (IRTAD) Group and the International Transport Forum (ITF) organised with great success the 38th Meeting which was held in s’-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, on 13-14 November 2024. In this meeting, the latest international road safety developments were discussed. Members and observers from many countries enriched the discussion aimed to help improve road safety across the globe. Particular emphasis was given to road safety data collection and analysis. NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation:
NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation:
A paper titled “Effectiveness of 30 km/h speed limit – A literature review” authored by George Yannis and Eva Michelaraki has been published in Journal of Safety Research. This study evaluates the impact of 30 km/h speed limits on road safety, emissions, fuel consumption, traffic flow, livability and public health. It was revealed that city-wide 30 km/h speed limit can save (on average) over 40% of lives, 30% of crashes, 20% of emissions and 3.7 dB of noise, while no impact in travel times was observed. Results demonstrated significant subsequent increase of active travelling (pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooters) and Public Transport passengers, as mobility conditions become more user friendly to the vulnerable road users. Public awareness campaigns and promoting active mobility options, such as walking and cycling, could further support the adoption of city-wide 30 km/h speed limits. 
The Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT/CERTH) in cooperation with the Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers (HITE) are organizing the 12th International Congress on Transportation Research (ICTR 2025), which will take place on 16-18 October 2025 in Thessaloniki, Greece. The spotlight theme of the 2025 Congress is “Transportation in the era of Artificial Intelligence”. Researchers can submit their abstracts until 31 January 2025. 
The Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) is organizing the 24th Road Safety Hackathon, which will take place in Riga, Latvia, on November 15-17, 2024. This event aims to collaborate, innovate and create solutions to improve road safety. Members and observers from many countries will enrich the discussion aiming to help improve road safety. 
The Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) already organized with great success three Warm-up Events prior to the main event which were held online on 25 October, 4 and 8 November 2024, with the active support of NTUA which contributed with the following presentations:
The Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) already organized with great success three Warm-up Events prior to the main event which were held online on 25 October, 4 and 8 November 2024, with the active support of NTUA which contributed with the following presentations:
The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) in cooperation with the Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) are organizing the PIN Talk “Improving the safety of e-scooter riders”, which will take place in Rome, Italy, on November 15, 2024. This event aims to address current challenges, share best practices, and propose safety measures to support the safe integration of e-scooters in urban environments across Europe.
The University of Twente together with TRAIL organized with great success the Cycling, Micromobility and Road Safety Seminar in Enschede, Netherlands on 1 November 2024. The primary focus of this seminar was to support micromoblility efforts toward safer roads across Europe. NTUA Professor George Yannis actively contributed with the following presentation:
POLIS, the European Cities Network, has organized with great success the Safety and Security Working Group Meeting which was held online on 30 October 2024. The POLIS Safety and Security Working Group focused on the effectiveness of lower speed limits and Low-Traffic Neighborhoods in enhancing road safety. NTUA Professor George Yannis actively contributed with the following presentation:
The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has published a Position Paper titled “EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 Funds for Road Safety“. In this paper, ETSC presents recommendations for funding for road safety initiatives within the next long-term EU budget, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). These recommendations should support work towards meeting EU’s Vision Zero target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030, paving the way for safer roads across Europe.
The European Union Road Federation (ERF) has released the updated Recommendations for Sign Inspection. These guidelines provide the road community with important updated information on practices and technical recommendations to reduce roadside injuries and fatalities. The publication aligns with the EU’s Vision Zero goals, emphasizing the importance of safe infrastructure in accident prevention and injury mitigation.
The Horizon Europe research project IMPROVA has recently released the IMPROVA 1st Consortium Newsletter, which provides information on the latest outcomes of the EU-funded IMPROVA project focusing on advancing injury mitigation strategies to help achieve Vision Zero, under the European Commission’s Transport and Mobility sector.
The International Cooperation on Theories and Concepts in Traffic safety (ICTCT) together with the Traffic and Transportation Safety Lab of Delft University of Technology organized with great success the 36th Conference which was held in The Hague, Netherlands, on 17-18 October 2024. This conference with theme “Inclusive and interdisciplinary road safety research” served as a platform for global leaders, industry experts, academia and diverse public and private stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions and collaborative efforts. Particular emphasis was given to vulnerable road users, micromobility, road infrastructure design, innovative research methodologies and inclusive road safety policies.
NTUA actively contributed with 2 presentations:
NTUA actively contributed with 2 presentations:
The International Road Federation (IRF) in cooperation with the Turkish Road Association organized with great success the IRF World Congress 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey, on 15-18 October 2024. This conference with theme “Connecting to Empower Mobility: Roads as Enablers of a Sustainable Future for All” served as a platform for global leaders, industry experts, academia, and diverse public and private stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions and collaborative efforts, addressing pivotal issues and exploring innovations within the road and mobility sectors.
NTUA actively contributed with 7 innovative presentations:
NTUA actively contributed with 7 innovative presentations:
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Assessing the effectiveness of 30km/h speed limit in cities - Quantifying the impact of driver, vehicle and environment on crash risk using big data
- Exploring the Influencing Factors of Active Commuting Choices for Work-Related Trips: The Case of Athens
- Exploring the Relationship Between Unsafe Traffic Events and Crash Occurrences Using Smartphone App Data
- Enhancing cyclist safety: Predictive analysis of injury severity and advocacy for evidence-based interventions
- The ESRA initiative
- Key results on vulnerable road users’ performance and attitudes across 39 countries
The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Powered Two-Wheelers Thematic Report which refers to the safety of moped riders and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users. This Thematic Report describes how PTWs participate in traffic, as well as PTWs in relation to road safety hazards. Moreover, countermeasures regarding safer road users, vehicles and roads are suggested.
The TRB ACS10 Standing Committee organised with great success the Quarterly Meeting on Transport Safety Management Systems which was held online, on 25 September 2024. The primary focus of this meeting was the impact of the impact of the 30 km/h speed limit in urban areas. NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation:
NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation:
The Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility Association (CCAM) has released the Quarterly Newsletter which provides information on the latest CCAM news aiming to create a more user-centered and inclusive mobility system, increasing road safety while reducing congestion and environmental footprint. Established in 2021, the international not-for-profit organisation CCAM Association represents the private side of the CCAM Partnership, bringing together 230 innovation stakeholders involved in the connected, cooperative and automated mobility field.
The Road Traffic Safety Agency (RTSA) of the Republic of Serbia in cooperation with several Serbian and international road safety Governmental, Academic and other organizations, is organising the 20th International Conference Road Safety in Local Communities (RSLC 2025) in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia, on 23-26 April 2025. The Conference was organized within the second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030) and the second national strategy for road safety (2023-2030) highlighting the significant changes in road safety regulations.
The International Transport Forum (ITF) has recently published a new Summary Report titled “Advancing Sustainable Mobility in Greece: Supporting SUMPs uptake“. This initiative supports Greek cities in developing and implementing Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) that focus on environmentally friendly and safe transport solutions, such as walking, cycling, and public transport. It offers Greek local authorities practical guidance and tools to optimize transport planning, ensuring safer and more sustainable urban mobility systems, in order to achieve climate neutrality by the year 2030.
A paper titled “Cost benefit analyst of reducing speed limits in Athens to 30 Km/h” authored by Stella Roussou, Virginia Petraki, Katerina Deliali, Armira Kontaxi and George Yannis has been published in Case Studies on Transport Policy. The study highlights the benefits of lowering speed limits in Athens from 50 km/h to 30 km/h, including a 30-40% reduction in traffic crashes and a 20-25% decrease in injury severity . Additionally, the policy could lead to lower by 10-15% CO2 emissions and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. The overall benefits are projected to outweigh the costs by 3 to 5 times, making it a highly effective policy for safer, more sustainable urban mobility.
UNECE has introduced new Guidelines and Recommendations aimed at enhancing cycling networks and promoting cycling as a sustainable and safe mode of transportation. These Guidelines emphasize the need for well-connected cycling infrastructure and the integration of cycling into national transport systems. By prioritizing safer cycling routes, the Guidelines aim to achieve safer, healthier and more environmentally friendly urban and rural mobility. This initiative is expected to play a key role in shaping future transport policies across Europe.
