Road fatalities in Greece in 2025 presented a significant decrease (22.3%) compared to 2024 figures, according to the provisional ELSTAT and Traffic Police data. This is the result of the intensification of enforcement of helmet wearing and drink-and-drive by the Police, together with the new Road Traffic Code in Greece (voted in June and in force since September) which led to an astonishing improvement of driver behaviour and consequently to this very significant reduction or road crash fatalities.

These highly successful initiatives of the Greek Authorities led to a record saving of 148 lives: 517 in 2025 in comparison to 665 in 2024. With these results (49,7 fatalities per million population), Greece is leaving the zone of lowest performance EU countries (63,8 fatalities per million population in 2024), and is approaching the EU average road safety performance (43 fatalities per million population).

We are proud having contributed actively through our systematic advocacy interventions to the Authorities and the media, for prioritizing motorcycle safety and helmet wearing as the catalysers for significant reduction of road casualties in Greece.    

The European Road Safety Charter of the European Commission, has recently published a new Article focusing on safer children journeys to school. While the European Union has made long-term progress in reducing road deaths, recent data shows improvement has slowed, highlighting the need for renewed action – especially for vulnerable road users such as children. There are several factors that may contribute to risk during school travel, such as the increase in private car as default mode to travel to school, traffic congestion, infrastructure and vehicle safety. Some countermeasures include school streets, improved infrastructure such as crossings and good visibility around schools and road safety education and awareness for children and parents. 

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the City of Athens are organizing the 2026 UCI Mobility & Bike City Forum, which will take place in Athens, on 10-11 May 2026. The programme will cover a range of themes central to the development of cycling worldwide, including (1) Strengthening cycling tourism: emerging trends and successful approaches, (2) Urban mobility strategies: integrating cycling into city planning, (3) Cycling events as drivers of sustainable sport tourism and impact and (4)   Global road safety: collaborative approaches for safer cycling. NTUA will actively participate and contribute in the panel discussion entitled “Global road safety: collaborative approaches for safer cycling”, showcasing experiences in holistic safety gained from the PHOEBE project. 

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Investigation of the Acceptance of Autonomous Vehicles by Greek Drivers” was recently presented by Konstantina Roumelioti. The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptance of autonomous vehicles by Greek drivers, as well as their intention for future purchase, focusing on the factors that shape their attitude towards this new technology. Data collection was carried out through a properly designed questionnaire, which included hypothetical travel scenarios with varying parameters, such as safety, cost, and time, in order to capture users’ preferences and perceptions. The results indicated that the acceptance of autonomous vehicles depends, among other factors, on cost, travel time and vehicle safety level. Furthermore, the need and possibility of being able to take control of the vehicle at any time increased the likelihood of choosing autonomous vehicles, positively influencing their acceptance.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Cost Benefit Analysis of 30 km/h speed limit implementation in all EU cities” was recently presented by Gerasimos Balatsinos. To achieve this objective, a methodological framework consisting a statistical analysis of road crashes and a Cost–Benefit Analysis at a macroscopic level were developed. Initially, road crash data recorded within urban areas for the period 2016–2022 were collected for each EU Member State. Subsequently, the data was utilized to develop two logistic regression models, incorporating fixed and random effects. The results indicate that crash severity is primarily influenced by the type of transport mode, lighting conditions, and age, while other factors exhibit a smaller yet statistically significant effect. Furthermore, substantial variation is observed across EU countries in terms of baseline risk levels. The findings suggest that the implementation of a 30 km/h speed limit constitutes an economically feasible measure at the European level, yielding a positive Economic Net Present Value (ENPV) of approximately €18 billion. At the city level, the ENPV ranges from approximately €90 million (Paris) to €4.6 billion (London).  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Critical factors of road users’ self declared behavior and safety in Greece” was recently presented by Konstantina-Aikaterini Mavraki. To achieve this objective, critical behaviours were analysed, such as compliance with speed limits, seat belt use, alcohol consumption, mobile phone use, etc., across different categories of users, including car drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians, and users of electric scooters. The analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression, with six separate models for different categories of road network users, utilizing also the results of the ESRA survey, which were compared with field measurement data in order to highlight differences between self-reported and observed behaviour. The findings suggest that individuals who agree with and accept risky and illegal road behaviours are more likely to commit violations of the Road Traffic Code across all examined categories of road users. Furthermore, recommendations that could enhance road users’ safety, such as educational and training campaigns and targeted infrastructure interventions were provided.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Investigation of the acceptance of reducing the speed limit to 30 km/h in all urban areas in Greece” was recently presented by Konstantina Gkoudinakou. For this purpose, a special questionnaire was developed that was answered by 302 drivers based on the method of declared preference for 10 hypothetical scenarios with variations in time, fuel consumption, and the probability of a road crash with casualties. Data were collected, processed, analyzed, and after many tests, a polynomial regression model and two binary regression models were developed to understand the factors that affect the acceptance of drivers in a city center to reduce speed limits. The results indicated the variables that significantly affect driver acceptance, such as increased travel time, reduced fuel consumption, reduced likelihood of road accidents with injury, driving frequency, the role of speed in causing accidents, the role of pedestrians in choosing driving speed, and certain demographic factors. This way, findings are also obtained regarding the social acceptance of the measure in relation to the characteristics of the participants, such as gender, age, education, driving behavior, and so on.  

A NTUA Diploma Thesis titled “Investigation of the Perceptions and Acceptance of Greek Road Users towards the New Road Traffic Code” was recently presented by Nikolaos Spathis. For the purposes of this research, data collection was carried out through a questionnaire, which was completed by 800 travelers. Subsequently, binomial logistic regression and elasticity models were developed for Greece as a whole, for Attica, and for the other Regions of Greece. The results showed that acceptance is influenced by specific factors such as gender, age group, violations related to excessive speed, attitude toward behavioral change, hours of driving per week, as well as the belief that the 30 km/h measure within residential areas will reduce road accidents. The findings indicated that the majority of Greek drivers show a tendency to accept the new Road Traffic Code. Overall, the results indicate that acceptance of the new Road Traffic Code is shaped by a combination of demographic characteristics, driving behavior, and perceptions regarding the effectiveness of the implemented measures.  

The International Road Federation (IRF) organized with great success a Training Programme called Road Safety for Managers: From Diagnosis to Decision which was held online on 31 March to 9 April 2026. This 12-hour Course was designed to equip decision-makers with a practical, system-level understanding of road safety management, enabling them to interpret crash and risk data, select proven safety treatments and build robust, defensible investment cases. Participants also learned how to establish monitoring frameworks that support accountability, guide continuous improvement and deliver measurable reductions in fatal and serious injuries across the network.   NTUA Prof. George Yannis was an Associate Instructor and actively contributed with the following presentation:

•   Core Road Safety Concepts for Managers

ICAP CRIF organized with great success the 2nd ESG Summit which was  held in Athens, on 2 April 2026 under the theme “Turning Environmental, Social & Governance into Strategic Value”. The ESG Summit aimed to highlight the strategic imperative of implementing sustainable initiatives that go beyond regulatory compliance and act as a driver of long-term growth and competitive advantage.  

T-Press organized with great success the 3rd International Exhibition Ergo.Tec Forum and CMC Conference which took place in Athens, Greece on 20-22 March 2026. This Event presented all the latest developments, research, and innovations in the construction sector. The leaders of the construction industry discussed the challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future of construction sites and infrastructure projects, while specialized speakers contributed to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Ministers, representatives of industry associations and contractors’ organizations, members of the academic community, as well as companies in the construction and machinery market participated.  NTUA actively contributed with the following presentation:

•   Attica Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV recently published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Annual Statistical Report on Road Safety in the EU, which provides an overview of crash data for 2014 to 2024 from 27 EU Member States and the four EFTA countries. According to this Report, 53% of road traffic fatalities occurred on rural roads, versus 38% in urban areas and 8% on motorways. It was also revealed that car occupants (drivers and passengers) represented 44% of all fatalities, while pedestrians accounted for 18%, users of powered two-wheelers (motorbikes and mopeds) 18%, and cyclists 9%.

The Hannover Medical School organized with great success the 10th International Expert Symposium on Accident Research (ESAR) which was held in Hannover, Germany on 25-26 March 2026. ESAR is a platform for exchange of information on crash research issues, bringing together experts from medicine, engineering, law enforcement, and industry. The Conference focused on road safety research, crash causation, pre-crash analysis, crash reconstruction, new data sources for crash research such as video observation and EDR, injuries, regulation and consumer information.   NTUA actively contributed with the following paper and presentation:

•   Driving Performance Deficits in Chronic Insomnia: Evidence from a Multi-Scenario Simulator Study

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the updated Road Safety Country Profiles, which provide a comprehensive overview of the road safety status in the 27 EU Member States and three EFTA countries for the period 2014 to 2024. These Country Profiles exploit data and information from a range of sources, including the CARE and other international databases, as well as national sources, in order to highlight current road safety outcomes, performance indicators, policy & measures and structure & culture for each country.

The European Commission recently issues a Press Release on preliminary figures on road fatalities for 2025, reporting around 19,400 deaths. This represents a 3% decrease from 2024, meaning that 580 fewer people died on European roads. Given the increase in vehicles on EU roads and kilometers driven, this is a significant achievement. Furthermore, road safety progress varies widely by country. Between 2024 and 2025, there were remarkable decreases in Estonia (-38%) and Greece (-22%). However, the preliminary data also highlights the need for sustained efforts at all levels as most Member States are not yet on track to meet the EU’s goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.   

The International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences (IATSS) is organizing its Annual Research Project Reporting and Award Ceremony for 2026 which will take place in Tokyo, Japan and online on 10 April 2026. This Event will present to the public the research projects conducted in FY2025 that have produced particularly outstanding results. At this year’s IATSS Award Ceremony, two Achievement Awards, one Literature Award, and two Paper Awards will be presented. Participation is free upon Resistration.  

NTUA is organizing the PHOEBE Project Workshop which will take place in Athens, Greece on 15 April 2026. During this Workshop, the framework and tools developed within the PHOEBE project will be presented, alongside key results. Particular emphasis will be placed on infrastructure safety assessment, behaviour analysis, traffic simulation and cost–benefit evaluation approaches. The Workshop takes place back-to-back with the IRTAD 2026 Conference, making it an ideal opportunity for participants attending both events. Attendance is free upon Registration.

The Greek Auxiliary Fund is organizing a 50 Year Anniversary Conference which will take place in Athens, Greece on 12 May 2026, marking 50 years of uninterrupted service to the Greek society. This Event aims to highlight the Auxiliary Fund’s social role and to foster public dialogue on critical issues related to road safety, auto insurance in Greece and Europe and the safety of citizens. Some of the topics include road safety in Greece, protection of road accident victims and the role of organizations in Europe. Attendance is free upon registration.  

The Horizon Europe research project SOTERIA is organizing a Final Event which will take place in Bilbao, Spain on 28 April 2026. Under the theme “From Living Labs to real-world change”, the Event will highlight how SOTERIA’s innovative approach contributes to personalised road safety solutions, transforming insights from real-world testing environments into practical measures for safer mobility. Participants will learn about the project’s key outcomes, experiences from the Living Labs, and the next steps toward implementing data-driven and user-centred road safety strategies across Europe. Attendance is free upon registration.

The Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move) of the European Commission has recently launched a new layer at the EU Road Safety Map with the results of the networkwide road-safety-assessment performed in 2025 by the EU Member States, following the requirements of the amendment of Directive (EU) 2019/1936 of 23 October 2019, which supplements Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management. This Tool utilizes the TENtec Geographic Information Platform showcasing on maps the performance of several Indicators of the TEN-T network, including the safety star-rating of the EU primary roads.

The SOTERIA Project Workshop which will take place in Athens, Greece on 15 April 2026. The SOTERIA workshop at the IRTAD Conference will introduce participants to a data‑driven approach for enhancing urban safety, with a particular focus on the protection of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) in diverse European contexts. It will present how behavioural insights, micro‑mobility data and advanced analytics can support evidence‑based policy planning and the design of effective safety interventions Participants will have the opportunity to engage with innovative methodologies, explore infrastructure and other data needs, and contribute insights that will help shape SOTERIA’s final recommendations and alignment with Vision Zero objectives. The Event takes place back-to-back with the IRTAD Conference, making it an ideal opportunity for participants attending both events. Attendance is free upon Registration.

The 14th Symposium of European Association for Research in Transportation (hEART2026) will take place in Paris, on 29 September to 1 October 2026. The Symposium offers an opportunity for in depth discussion in all scientific methods and analyses in transport. This Event aims to promote excellence in transportation research in Europe, with a particular focus on PhD students and young researchers, while bringing together leading scientists in operational research and transportation from academia, industry, and public authorities. Researchers can submit their contributions until 15 April 2026 here.  

NTUA is organizing the IVORY Project Mid-Term Conference which will take place in Athens, Greece on 15 April 2026. This Event offers an exciting opportunity to engage with the latest advances in AI applications for road safety, in direct alignment with the EU Vision Zero strategy. The Conference takes place back-to-back with the IRTAD Conference, making it an ideal opportunity for participants attending both events. Attendance is free upon Registration. 

The European Commission with the active contribution of NTUA, SWOV, VIAS Institute and KFV has published at the European Road Safety Observatory, the Speed and Speeding Thematic Report which emphasizes that driving at excessive or inappropriate speed is a major threat to safety on the road. It is estimated that 10 to 15% of all crashes and 30% of all fatal crashes are the direct result of speeding or inappropriate speed. It is also emphasized that safety systems in cars, such as intelligent speed assistance or electronic stability control can prevent speeding or reduce the consequences of speeding, while education and communication, in combination with and supporting other measures, are particularly important. Moreover, city-wide 30km/h speed limits and their enforcement has been shown to be the most efficient measure for quick reduction of crash and injury risks.  

The Editorial for the Special Issue Vehicle Safe Motion in Mixed-Vehicle-Technology Environment authored by Stergios Mavromatis, George Yannis and Yasser Hassan has been published in the World Electric Vehicle Journal. This Special Issue aims to advance knowledge on vehicle safe motion during this critical transition period by bringing together recent research on mixed traffic flow dynamics, safety assessment, and intelligent control strategies. Collectively, the papers in this Special Issue provide scientific insights and practical tools that support safer, more efficient, and more resilient vehicle motion in increasingly complex mixed-technology traffic environments. The findings suggest that connectivity-enabled strategies, predictive control, and cooperative decision-making can mitigate safety risks while promoting smoother traffic flow and reduced energy consumption, particularly in complex settings such as work zones, tunnels, and intersections. Moreover, AI-based perception and traffic monitoring emerge as key enablers for real-time traffic management and energy-aware electric mobility. 

The International Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD) of the International Transport Forum (ITF/OECD) published the Road Safety Annual Report 2025, on the development of road safety in 2024 with the active contribution of NTUA. It is based on data from 40 IRTAD member countries, with some preliminary data also for the year 2025. The main findings and data available from 35 countries revealed that in 2024, a 2.8% decline in road fatalities was observed compared to 2023, while in the first half of 2025 road fatalities decreased by 5% .  

The 2^nd Edition of the book titled ‘Highway Safety Analytics and Modeling‘ authored by Dominique Lord, Xiao Qin, Srinivas R. Geedipally, has been recently published. This book covers the key elements needed for making effective transportation engineering and policy decisions based on highway crash data analysis. This thoroughly updated second edition updates the material contained in the book based on the latest advancements in highway safety research as well as feedback from readers. It includes entirely new sections on topics such as digital twins as a source of data, model validation, extreme value models, temporal instability, joint crash frequency and severity modeling, sample size, quasi-induced exposure method, autonomous vehicle safety estimate, and more. 

Plenoria organized with great success the 50th International Road Conference (CESTE 2026) which took place in Zagreb, Croatia on 17-20 March 2026. This Event was thematically related to strategic planning, construction and maintenance of road network development, traffic safety, development and implementation of IT systems in the function of traffic management, innovations in the field of traffic signaling and equipment, new technologies in road construction and maintenance, plans of sustainable urban mobility and environmental protection, possibilities of using funds, and smart infrastructure management in cities – “Smart city”. 

The International Road Federation (IRF) is organizing the IRF Annual Conference 2026 which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland on 16-18 November 2026. The Conference provided a unique platform to exchange ideas, showcase expertise, and advance practical solutions shaping the future of road infrastructure and mobility worldwide. The Event highlighted roads’ central role in fostering inclusive, safe, green and efficient roads by driving the uptake of innovative policies and solutions and accelerating real world improvements. 

The European Union has recently published its Mid-Point Progress Report on the 2021-2030 road safety strategy with the active contribution of NTUA. The results summarised in this Report illustrate how much can be achieved when actors at all levels – from individuals to EU-level governing structures – contribute to the Safe System approach, within their areas of responsibility. But the slow-down in progress towards Vision Zero – against a background of increased traffic growth and new societal and technological trends – calls into question whether the current road safety ‘toolbox’ is fit for the future. The Report reveals significant opportunities in order to ensure the EU remains on track to meet its 2030 objectives, namely: technological advances in vehicle safety, growing awareness of the economic benefits of investments in safety, an increasing political focus on sustainable mobility and the coordinated, sustained, and properly resourced efforts across the EU and within Member States at all levels of government and society.