Who is Vias Institute, and what is your role as a Charter Ambassador?
Vias Institute is Belgium’s leading independent knowledge centre for road safety, sustainable mobility, and security. With over 120 experts, we develop solutions to legislative, technological, and social challenges through research, testing, training, and awareness campaigns.
Although Belgium is small, our road safety challenges are diverse, with language and sector barriers often isolating local organisations. As a Charter Ambassador, our role is to connect members, translate knowledge into practical advice, and help organisations navigate the European road safety network effectively.
Why did you decide to join the European Road Safety Charter?
We believe you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to improve road safety. Across Europe, there is a wealth of inspiring research, campaigns, and events that can guide new projects.
The Charter helps us discover these good practices, making our work more efficient and impactful. It allows us to connect with international players and learn from local organisations rooted in their communities.
What are your main focus areas and current projects?
Our work covers a wide range of topics, including:
- Alcohol, drugs, fatigue and distraction
- Autonomous vehicles and drones
- Driver improvement courses for offenders
- Urban road safety
We also coordinate ESRA (E-Survey of Road Users’ Attitudes), which gathers global road safety data, and have participated in recent years in European projects such as Baseline, Trendline, PROBONO, PRECINCT, and TRUST.
Who do you collaborate with?
Collaboration is central to our approach. We work with:
- Public authorities, research institutes, emergency services, insurance companies, car manufacturers, and non-profits
- Other National Relays in European projects, strengthening cross-border ties
- Networks such as FERSI, IRTAD, ETSC, UNSRC, TPI, CIECA, HUMANIST and ICTCT
In Belgium, we also engage directly with citizens through interviews, workshops, and co-creation sessions.
What advice would you give to organisations working on road safety?
A road safety issue always involves more than one road user or stakeholder. Actively collaborate with them from day one:
- Use stakeholders as advisors
- Let them challenge you with new ideas
- Facilitate dialogue to uncover dynamics and break barriers