Who is KFV, and what is your role as a Charter Ambassador?
We represent the European Road Safety Charter in Austria on behalf of the Austrian Road Safety Board (KFV). We act as a link between the Charter and national stakeholders and have been active in road safety at KFV for more than twenty years.
Our role goes beyond working with traditional stakeholders. We aim to bring road safety into everyday life and to encourage as many partners as possible to get involved, so that improving road safety becomes a shared effort across society.
Why did you decide to join the European Road Safety Charter?
As a national road safety organisation, joining the Charter was a natural step to place our work within a broader European context. The Charter network allows us to learn from international partners and, at the same time, to engage more people nationally in the common goal of improving road safety.
What are your main focus areas and current projects?
Our main ambition is to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Austrian roads and to move closer to being among the safest countries in Europe. A strong national strategy is essential to achieving this.
KFV helped shape the Austrian Road Safety Strategy 2021 to 2030 and contributed to regional strategies in several federal states. We were closely involved in developing action plans on speed management and active mobility, providing expert input based on research and practical experience.
Who do you collaborate with?
Collaboration is at the heart of our work. KFV has participated in several European projects, including Baseline, Trendline, ESRA, ESRO, and TRUST.
We also work with partners on concrete awareness initiatives. Recently, we joined organisations from six Eastern European countries to raise awareness about child safety. Another highlight was the production of a multilingual video on e-scooter safety rules together with Insurance Europe, now available in ten languages.
What advice would you give to organisations working on road safety?
Choose a topic with broad support, such as child safety, and start there. Early successes help maintain motivation and show that real progress is possible. When working with partners, communicate together. Joint press and media activities increase visibility, strengthen cooperation, and open the door to new partnerships.