This year we followed our dreams, promoting intensively road safety scientific excellence and safer mobility everywhere and for all, including also our major campaign for city-wide 30km/h speed limits; the new catalyzer for saving so many lives with so little change in our habits.

At mid-way to the decade -50% target, we need to further strengthen our individual and collective efforts to sincerely include traffic safety into the mobility agenda and persist in implementing the vision zero traffic fatalities.

We thank you all for the excellent cooperation and we are sending you our very best wishes for Merry Christmas and a Very Lucky New Year, full of personal and professional achievements. 

At a recent “Travelling Differently Podcast“, NTUA Professor George Yannis emphasized the necessity of city-wide 30km/h speed limits, highlighting significant safety benefits. He referred to several analyses data demonstrating that European cities implementing this measure have achieved an average 37% reduction in road fatalities. The importance of protecting vulnerable road users was highlighted, noting that the 30km/h speeds limits not only enhance road safety but also promotes walking, cycling and public transport. The need for a shift from policy intentions to concrete actions was emphasized, with focus on the role of Authorities in driving societal change. Professor George Yannis also pointed to the over-dependence on private cars in Greece, describing urban roads as “passenger car warehouses”. Particular emphasis should be given on the need to reimagine urban mobility, with the city-wide 30km/h speed limit identified as a unique pivotal measure for fostering safer and more sustainable cities. The full article and the related audio-podcast are now available.  

The European Council has recently adopted the negotiating position on driving disqualifications in order to improve road safety in the EU aimed at improving road safety through the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications across EU member states. This initiative focuses on strengthening enforcement measures for serious traffic offenses, such as speeding, driving under the influence, and dangerous driving, ensuring that penalties are upheld across borders. The proposed rules aim to enhance road safety by closing legal gaps that allow offenders to evade penalties when driving in other EU countries. 

A paper titled Predicting risky driving behavior with classification algorithms: results from a large-scale field-trial and simulator experiment authored by Thodoris Garefalakis, Eva Michelaraki, Stella Roussou  Christos Katrakazas, Tom Brijs and George Yannis has been published in European Transport Research Review. The study analyzed large-scale data from real-world driving and simulator experiments, highlighting that models can predict dangerous behaviors, such as speeding and harsh braking, with accuracy rates as high as 84%. The findings emphasize the importance of using data-driven approaches to anticipate and mitigate risky behaviors, which are a leading cause of road crashes. This research reinforces the need for innovative tools to create safer driving environments and reduce accident risks. 

A paper titled Spatial analysis of telematics-based surrogate safety measures authored by Dimitrios Nikolaou, Apostolos Ziakopoulos, Armira Kontaxi, Athanasios Theofilatos and George Yannis  has been published in Journal of Safety Research. This study investigates the effects of traffic calming measures such as speed humps, chicanes, and roundabouts on road safety, air quality, and noise pollution. The findings reveal that implementing traffic calming strategies such as speed humps, chicanes, and roundabouts can reduce traffic crashes by more than 25%, with a remarkable 40% decrease in severe injuries involving vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. These measures also encourage safer driving behaviors by lowering vehicle speeds, which significantly enhances safety in densely populated urban areas. 

An open-access book titled “Shared Mobility Revolution: Pioneering Autonomous Horizons” was recently published under the framework of the Horizon 2020 project SHOW (SHared automation Operating models for Worldwide adoption). This book reports on technologies and business models focusing on supporting the deployment of shared, connected, and electrified automation in urban transport. Chapters discuss practical issues concerning mobility data management, strategies to improve user acceptance and engagement, and reports on assessment and simulation techniques to test shared automated shuttles in various contexts. These discussions provide valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers shaping user-centered, sustainable future automated mobility. NTUA actively contributed with the following chapter, co-authored by Maria Oikonomou, Marios Sekadakis, Apostolos Ziakopoulos and George Yannis:

• Integrated Traffic Simulation Developer Suite for Shared Automated Mobility

A paper titled “The HADRIAN novel human–machine interface prototype for automated driving: safety and impact assessment” authored by Marios Sekadakis, Marianthi Kallidoni, Christos Katrakazas, Sandra Trösterer, Cyril Marx, Peter Moertl and George Yannis has been published in European Transport Research Review. The study, assesses the impact of innovative Human–Machine Interface (HMI) prototypes on safety, driving performance, and driver perceptions, focusing on automated driving at SAE Levels 2 or 3. A tailored safety and impact assessment methodology, incorporating Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), highlighted key features that contributed to improved safety and perceived effectiveness. These results suggest that HADRIAN HMI reached a remarkable 95% safety score, marking a substantial improvement over the baseline condition. 

The International Road Federation (IRF) together with TotalEnergies recently launched an International Registry for Road Safety Auditors at the IRF World Congress 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey. This registry aims to be a global platform in order to recognize qualified auditors and improve road safety standards. By setting universal benchmarks, the registry supports safer roads and reduces traffic injuries worldwide. This initiative ensures better access to skilled professionals for road safety projects globally. 

The Horizon 2020 research project SHOW (SHared automation Operating models for Worldwide adoption) has recently released the SHOW Final Newsletter highlighting its successful conclusion and key accomplishments in advancing automated urban mobility. Over four years, SHOW piloted shared, connected, and automated vehicle fleets in real-world conditions across European cities. The project demonstrated how these innovative solutions can integrate with public transport, reducing emissions and urban congestion while enhancing safety and accessibility. As the project ends, its results provide a strong foundation for the future of sustainable and efficient urban transport.

The Mobility Unit of DG GROW of the European Commission has recently released a Report titled “Study on the need for harmonised rules to support the rise of micro mobility and increased road safety for personal mobility devices” prepared by Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and FKA GmbH. This report emphasizes the importance of accurate and harmonized data to support evidence-based policymaking and the achievement of Vision Zero targets. The study concluded that enhancing data quality and consistency could reduce road fatalities by up to 50% in some areas, as better data allows for more targeted interventions. The study also highlights gaps in existing data systems, with a particular need for improved reporting on vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, who account for a significant proportion of road fatalities in urban areas. By addressing these challenges, the EU aims to foster a unified approach to road safety, leveraging innovative technologies and methodologies to ensure progress toward safer roads for all. 

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. Results from 60 simulation studies and estimations demonstrated significant reductions of over 40% of road crash fatalities, alongside 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. Such a high societal impact for such a small change in our habits. 

NTUA Professor George Yannis has successfully completed his challenge to run 30 Marathons in 30 months in order to actively promote the 30km/h speed limit in cities. He has finished all marathons in under 4 hours. This campaign has a particularly significant social impact, with over 400,000 views and 100,000 visitors per year at the website and social media. It also received wide publicity with dozens of interviews on TV, radio and online media and dozens of articles in newspapers and publications in scientific journals and conferences, with the active support of NTUA and all major International Road Safety and mobility Organizations (ETSC, ECTRI, UITP, POLIS, ERF, IRF, FERSI, FEHRL, ECF, WALK21 and HITE).  

• Campaign Website: georgeruns30x30.com
• Short Video Documentary: 
• Social Impact Infographic:
• Marathons Experiences:
• Marathons Photos:

George Yannis will continue with the same passion supporting with scientific evidence and promoting slower speeds and safer mobility everywhere and for all.

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 Newsletter, which provides information on the latest outcomes of the EU-funded IMPROVA project focusing on enhancing road safety by addressing the complexities of long-term consequences (LTC) caused by road traffic accidents. With a commitment to improving the quality of life for all road users, IMPROVA goes beyond simply saving lives by focusing on understanding, quantifying, and mitigating the impact of LTC. The project also advances injury mitigation strategies to support the achievement of Vision Zero, aligned with the European Commission’s Transport and Mobility sector goals.

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 highlights the key risks associated to PTWs traffic, in terms of rider characteristics and behaviour, road infrastructure, traffic patterns and safety culture. Moreover, a series of specific countermeasures regarding safer road users, vehicles and roads are suggested in view of minimising both crash risk and severity.  

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:

•  Impact of a 30 km/h City-Wide Speed Limit

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. 

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.  

The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) announced at the IRF World Congress 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey, the enhancement of the Star Rating for Designs (SR4D), a Tool that allows the safety of road designs to be measured before the commencement of civil works. Using the Tool, road engineers and designers can define a road’s geometry and code its features to obtain a globally recognised iRAP safety Star Rating, along with fatal and serious injury estimations, and safety investment plans to optimise safety. 

The Horizon Europe research project metaCCAZE has recently released the metaCCAZE 1st Newsletter, which provides information on the latest outcomes of the EU-funded metaCCAZE project aiming to accelerate the deployment of smart systems that combine electric, automated and connected technologies and infrastructure, enabling zero-emission shared mobility services for both passengers and goods in European cities. The potential of zero emission shared mobility solutions in real and diverse urban environments were tested in four Trailblazer Cities (i.e. Amsterdam, Munich, Limassol, Tampere). 

The European Union Road Federation (ERF) has released the Road Statistics Yearbook 2024” with the active contribution of NTUA. As for many years, this publication provides the road community with important updated information on road transport sector and road infrastructure in Europe and beyond as an essential key element of the global mobility with one section focusing on road safety. 

The European Commission published the latest figures on Road safety in the EU, showing that 20,400 people were killed in road crashes in 2023, a 1% decrease in relation to 2022. While the underlying long-term trend is downward (-10% compared to 2019), the current pace of decline falls short of the required 4.5% annual reduction needed to achieve the EU’s goal of halving road deaths by 2030.  Preliminary figures for the first six months of 2024 indicate the number of deaths on EU roads has remained the same, compared with the same period in 2023. 

The Young and aging drivers Thematic Report of the European Survey of Road Users’ Safety Attitudes (ESRA) has been published with the active contribution of NTUA, containing a wealth of information on road safety in 39 countries across Europe, America and Asia-Oceania, based on the ESRA3 survey. This Thematic ESRA3 Report describes  the self-declared behaviours and perceived acceptability (social and personal) related to driving while impaired, speeding, and distraction, among young and aging drivers. Key findings show that aging drivers (65-74) are less likely than younger drivers to engage in risky behaviours like impaired driving, speeding, or distracted driving, such as using a hand-held phone or reading messages.  

The Speeding Thematic Report of the European Survey of Road Users’ Safety Attitudes (ESRA) has been published with the active contribution of NTUA, containing a wealth of information on road safety in 39 countries across Europe, America and Asia-Oceania, based on the ESRA3 survey. This Thematic ESRA3 Report describes the self-declared behaviour, acceptability, attitudes and support for policy measures regarding speeding. Factors associated with speeding per area and road type are also analysed. Furthermore, it includes comparisons among the participating countries as well as results in relation to age and gender.  

The Infrastructure Thematic Report of the European Survey of Road Users’ Safety Attitudes (ESRA) has been published with the active contribution of NTUA, containing a wealth of information on road safety in 39 countries across Europe, America and Asia-Oceania, based on the ESRA3 survey. This Thematic ESRA3 Report describes the use and the safety perception of infrastructure among different road users, including car drivers, moped riders and motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. Furthermore, it includes comparisons among the participating countries as well as results in relation to age and gender.  

The European Commission with the active contribution of  NTUA,  SWOV and KFV has launched a Vulnerable Road Users promotion activity focusing on children, cyclists, pedestrians and Powered Two-Wheelers (mopeds and motorcycles). According to the new Reports from the European Road Safety Observatory, the high vulnerability of non-motorised road users in urban areas is highlighted, with a disproportionately high number of fatalities in these areas for children (46% of total fatalities) and pedestrians (73%), compared to the average for all road users (38%). Recommendations to reduce fatalities among vulnerable users, including infrastructure improvements, protective equipment and vehicle design are also provided.     

NTUA Professor George Yannis has been awarded an Honorary Distinction during the Environmental Awards 2024, organised by Boussias events, held on 30 September 2024 in Athens. Professor George Yannis was awarded for his campaign promoting city-wide 30km/h speed limits in as many cities as possible worldwide, as a key policy for safer, healthier and greener cities, through his challenge of 30 Marathons in 30 months. These unique Awards highlight and reward good practices and initiatives for environmental protection and sustainability, as well as innovative “green” projects, technologies or programmes.  

Eva Michelaraki has successfully defended her PhD dissertation titled: Improving driver safety tolerance zone through holistic analysis of road, vehicle and behavioural risk factors, under the supervision of NTUA Prof. George Yannis. Data from 190 drivers who participated in a large on-road and simulator driving experiment were exploited. An innovative methodology, consisting of both statistical analyses (Generalized Linear Models, Structural Equation Models) and machine learning techniques (Decision Trees, k-Nearest Neighbors, Neural Networks and Random Forests) was implemented. Results indicated that RF models outperformed the DT and kNN models across all metrics, making them the most effective for predicting speeding and headway, with overall accuracy up to 90%. It was also revealed that task complexity was positively correlated with risk, while coping capacity was negatively correlated with risk, indicating that drivers with higher coping capacity are better equipped to handle challenging driving situations.  

The European Commission is making available within the European Road Safety Observatory, the Road Safety Atlas application, exploiting data from the CARE database, the EU database with disaggregate data. It is an application openly available with several detailed thematic maps on road fatalities and extended backround data available, including statistics per country and comparisons between countries. It provides a user-friendly interface to discover up to date road safety indicators for European countries.