Author: agouma
The 2020 infographic of NTUA Road Safety Observatory (www.nrso.ntua.gr) highlights one more very intensive and highly fruitful year, despite the pandemic. The nrso scientific team with high dedication, efficiency and expertise continue to grow and excel, being active in 30 innovative research projects, succeeded to publish 65 scientific papers (23 in peer reviewed journals), and travelled around the world in hundreds of webmeetings to develop and promote road safety science.
This year, besides intensive research in six Horizon 2020 and other projects, we were also lucky to contribute to the long waited Athens Great Walk large urban regeneration project and to the National Road Safety Action plan. During and after the pandemic, we are better than ever committed to our scientific quest for safer roads everywhere and for all. 
The School of Civil Engineering of NTUA recently published a Video with a Presentation of the School focusing on its History, Structure, Departments and Laboratories. The activities and Laboratory infrastructure of the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering, including those on road safety are highlighted . 
The International Road Federation (IRF) organised with great success three Webinars which were held online on 4, 9 and 16 March 2021. The topics of the Webinars were: COVID-19 Response and Recovery: The Global Transport Knowledge Partnership (gTKP), Sustainable Mobility: Policymaking for Data Sharing and Road Safety Management – Innovation and delivery in developing countries. Among others, the webinars offered insights on what is the reality of road safety on the ground, how to better engage at the country level and how to mobilise the resources needed to deliver. 
The 2nd Newsletter of the Horizon 2020 project Drive2theFuture was recently released highlighting the 2nd Drive2theFuture Workshop, held on March 2021, with the so far achievements of the project. The Newsletter also includes a survey identifying the current views and acceptance of automation in all modes which has been concluded with the participation of more than 11.500 people from all over Europe. NTUA actively contributed in the Workshop with the following presentation: 
From AV Skills Identification to AV training: The Drive2theFuture approach
NTUA actively contributed in the Workshop with the following presentation: From AV Skills Identification to AV training: The Drive2theFuture approach
The International Transport Forum (ITF/OECD) organised with great success on 10-12 February 2021 an online Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence in Road Traffic Crash Prevention, chaired by NTUA Professor George Yannis. This roundtable examined several promising use cases of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the prevention of road crashes and explored the potential of computer vision to acquire relevant information and AI models to identify high risk locations and situations. The Full Report will be available soon. NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation:
Using AI for spatial predictions of driver behavior
This roundtable examined several promising use cases of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the prevention of road crashes and explored the potential of computer vision to acquire relevant information and AI models to identify high risk locations and situations. The Full Report will be available soon. NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation:
Using AI for spatial predictions of driver behavior
The Greek National Road Safety Action Plan was presented on 3 February 2021 by Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis, and Deputy Minister Yannis Kefalogiannis, with the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and all competent Ministers and the active contribution of NTUA. The Action Plan sets the target of reducing fatalities by 50% by 2030 and is composed by five main axes: High-quality Data, National Strategic Plan & Governance, Education & Communication, Effective Enforcement System and Safe Road Network. 
A new book titled “Road safety. Technical solutions to a behavioural and technological problem with a scientific approach” authored by Pasquale Colonna, Vittorio Ranieri, Nicola Berloco and Paolo Intini was recently published. This book is aimed to provide both the scientific background and an operational framework for safety enhancement of existing roads, applicable regardless of the specific country and to prioritise the human value thanks to the benefits from reduced severe crashes. 
EuroRAP together with RSI Panos Mylonas, delivered to the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport two maps with the most dangerous roads in Greece. The maps were presented within the framework of the SLAIN project, which aims at enhancing Road Safety at the European Road Network. At these maps, Greek roads risk level is depicted in different colors, based on accidents frequency and quantitative risk assessment.
The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has recently published a Report titled: The Impact of COVID-19 on Traffic Safety and Mobility Education. The Report focuses on the effect of the restrictions imposed by most European Governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular the closure of schools, affected the provision of traffic safety and mobility education in their country, their work related to it, and how they adapted to it. The potential for Traffic Safety and Mobility Education improvement during and after the pandemic is discussed.
Together for Safer Roads (TSR), together with presenting sponsors UPS foundation and CalAmp, announced a vision zero technology fund to support fleet safety in essential services and purpose-based organizations. The fund will underwrite the adoption of lifesaving vehicle technologies and will assist in its implementation among essential service organizations’ fleet operations.
The Horizon 2020 project HADRIAN (Holistic Approach for Driver Role Integration and Automation Allocation for European Mobility Needs) published recently the 1st HADRIAN Newsletter. One-year technical work is presented, highlighting the HADRIAN operational concept for improved driver role for automated driving and the respective driver state monitoring capability and HMI approach, together with related safety and impact assessment and the elaboration of ethical and legal implications for automated driving.
The Forum of European Road Safety Research Institutes (FERSI) published a Paper titled “E-scooters in Europe: legal status, usage and safety“, which presents the legal status, usage and safety of e-scooters in 18 European countries. Many countries are working on more targeted or more elaborate legislation. Οbjective information about numbers, safety, users and their behaviour is scarce and needs to be strengthened.
The Forum of European Road Safety Research Institutes (FERSI) published a Position Paper titled “Towards an evidence-based national road safety programme“. The paper intends to offer guidance to Member States on developing a national road safety programme. Its main message is that a road safety programme must be based on scientifically sound evidence in order to ensure that it focuses on the most relevant issues and implements the most appropriate treatments.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), recently released a Report titled “Global Trade in Used Vehicles“, which looks at 146 countries that import used vehicles, and calls for action to regulate the trade through the adoption of a set of harmonized minimum quality standards. These would ensure used vehicles contribute to cleaner and safer fleets in recipient countries. UNEP and partners will address these issues, initially with a project focused on Africa.
The Road Safety GB organised with great success the 6th conference titled “Joining the Dots“, held online on March 2021. This conference focused on pressing topics facing the profession in this exceptional year and beyond including; changes in travel choice, the impact on roads casualties, shifting road user behaviour and predicting modal shift towards active travel. The recordings of the presentations are now available: NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation: Impact of COVID-19 on driver behaviour in Greece and selected countries
The recordings of the presentations are now available: NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation: Impact of COVID-19 on driver behaviour in Greece and selected countries
The fourth Newsletter of the Horizon 2020 project BeOpen (European forum and observatory for open science in transport) was recently released with all the past 6 months achievements, including activities and deliverables. The project’s goal is to progress beyond the state-of-the-art, developing an appropriate regulatory framework and policies to support innovation and deployment.
The Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards 2020 were recently presented by Prince Michael to Road Safety Organisations who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and innovation in improving road safety in Britain and world-wide. At this 30 years celebration, several of NTUA cooperating Organisations (The World Bank, iRAP, Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, Agilysis) were among the awarded Organisations.
The Horizon 2020 project i-DREAMS (smart Driver and Road Environment Assessment and Monitoring System) recently released its 3rd Newsletter, presenting the main accomplishments of the project, through creative solutions and risk mitigation strategies. The newsletter overviews the progress of the project during 2020, and highlights the technical results of project deliverables, spanning from the theoretical modelling of the Safety Tolerance Zone and the active and post-trip intervention strategies to the practical organization of the 6-month field trial experiment and the corresponding hardware and software developed from the consortium.
Rhodes’ Rescuers Association have organised with great success a three-day Webinar titled “Road accidents: Don’t just observe – Act” which was held online on 18-20 December 2020. The Webinar results are expected to bring significant value to road safety efforts at local, regional and national level. NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation:
NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation:
A new book titled “Advances in Mobility-as-a-Service Systems” has been published on June 2020, highlighting the innovative solutions for urban mobility, as long as describing effective strategies accelerating urban transformation. This book was edited by Eftihia G. Nathanail, Giannis Adamos and Ioannis Karakikes and was published by Springer. NTUA Associate Professors George Yannis, Eleni Vlahogianni and Research Associate Foteini Orfanou actively contributed with the following chapter :
NTUA Associate Professors George Yannis, Eleni Vlahogianni and Research Associate Foteini Orfanou actively contributed with the following chapter :
A new book titled “Frontiers in Sustainable Cities” has been published on July 2020, highlighting the importance of innovations in the approach to future urban living in order to address the challenges cities are facing. The book was released as an e-book by Frontiers Media SA. NTUA Associate Professor George Yannis, Senior Research Associate Alexandra Laiou and TOI Senior Researcher Tor-Olav Naevestad actively contributed with the following chapter :
NTUA Associate Professor George Yannis, Senior Research Associate Alexandra Laiou and TOI Senior Researcher Tor-Olav Naevestad actively contributed with the following chapter :
The 4th ESRA2 Webinar took place with great success on 16 December 2020 including the NTUA presentation titled: “Moped drivers and Motorcyclists”. This presentation was based on the results of the ESRA2 Thematic Report titled “Moped drivers and motorcyclists” focusing on key PTW attitudes from a survey that collected data from more than 35,000 road users across 32 countries worldwide. Speeding, drink and drive, helmet use and mobile phone distraction as well as self-declared safety perception of using mopeds and motorcycles, were among the key issues highlighted.
The European Commission (DG Move) has recently developed the Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators, which is a set of practical and reliable indicators that support cities to perform a standardised evaluation of their mobility system and to measure improvements that result from new mobility practices or policies. Two out of the 18 mobility indicators concern key urban road safety indicators to be jointly considered within the new urban sustainable mobility policies. The complete set of indicators is now available
The complete set of indicators is now available 
The European Commission (DG Move) recently presented the EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy together with an Action Plan of 82 initiatives (several of which aim to promote and enhance road safety), which lay the foundation for how the EU transport system can achieve its green and digital transformation .
Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said: “As the backbone that connects European citizens and business, transport matters to us all. Digital technologies have the potential to revolutionise the way we move, making our mobility smarter, more efficient, and also greener”.
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Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said: “As the backbone that connects European citizens and business, transport matters to us all. Digital technologies have the potential to revolutionise the way we move, making our mobility smarter, more efficient, and also greener”.
The “Hellenic Association for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems – ITS Hellas, has organised with great success the 6th Intelligent Transport Systems and Developments in Greece Conference which was held online on 14-15 December 2020 with the support of the European Commission Representation in Greece, focusing on issues related to European goals and national aspirations and efforts for the transition to a sustainable and “green” mobility. The recordings of the presentations are now available: NTUA actively contributed with the following presentations:
The recordings of the presentations are now available: NTUA actively contributed with the following presentations:
The World Health Organization has released an information resource for decision-makers and practitioners titled “Cyclist safety”, which describes the magnitude of cyclist death and injury, the key risk factors, and effective interventions. The document stresses the importance of a comprehensive, holistic approach that includes legislation, enforcement and behavioural measures specifically for cyclists, design of the built environment, as well as integrating cyclist safety into overall road safety and transport strategies.
The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has recently published a Report titled: Alcohol Interlocks in Europe: An Overview of Current and Forthcoming Programmes. This new Report aims at providing a more practical approach showing how each country has implemented their national scheme or intend to implement it in the future. It also identifies strengths and weaknesses to advocate for more effective measures and to inspire other Member States to deliver successful programmes.
The IRF Data Warehouse is a web-based global road data platform and warehouse that can complement and support national and regional efforts to collect and manage data. The IRF Data Warehouse also contributes to capacity-building and advocacy activities on a number of topics and in particular, road safety. The entire time series of the IRF World Road Statistics enables immediate and effective data analysis and is complemented by a series of dashboards and interactive data visualisation tools.
Africa’s Road Safety Data Challenge (ARSO), Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory (APRSO) and Ibero-American Road Safety Observatory (OISEVI) with the support of international development organizations, co-organised the Global Meeting of Regional Road Safety Observatories which was held online with great success, on 8-9 December 2020. This Global Conference helped in keeping the momentum created at the Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, and contribute to strengthening collaboration and harmonization across these regional observatories.
The World Road Association – PIARC published a Report titled “Prevention and Mitigation of Tunnel-Related Collisions”. This report presents and recommends possible organizational and technical measures one can implement to lower the probability or the mechanical consequences of tunnel related collisions, that is, collisions in which the specific characteristics of a tunnel play a role in either the cause or the effect.
