Initiative details
The speed of modern highway traffic represents one of the greatest risks for highway maintenance and patrol operators. Traditional safety measures such as arrow boards, flashing lights and roadside signage remain essential, but they are increasingly challenged by driver distraction and the growing complexity of traffic environments.
On the R1 expressway in Slovakia, maintenance and patrol vehicles frequently operate in live traffic conditions where approaching drivers may not recognize a hazard until it is too late to react safely. Even a brief lapse in attention can lead to severe collisions, injuries, secondary crashes and significant disruption to traffic flow.
Via Pribina identified a critical need to close the gap between roadside incidents and driver awareness. Traditional warning systems provide information only when the hazard becomes visible. However, at motorway speeds, valuable reaction time may already be lost.
The challenge was therefore to create a solution that would deliver safety information directly to approaching drivers before they reached the incident location.
The objective was to transform conventional roadside safety measures into proactive digital alerts capable of supporting safer driving behaviour, reducing collision risks and improving protection for both road workers and motorists.
On the R1 expressway in Slovakia, maintenance and patrol vehicles frequently operate in live traffic conditions where approaching drivers may not recognize a hazard until it is too late to react safely. Even a brief lapse in attention can lead to severe collisions, injuries, secondary crashes and significant disruption to traffic flow.
Via Pribina identified a critical need to close the gap between roadside incidents and driver awareness. Traditional warning systems provide information only when the hazard becomes visible. However, at motorway speeds, valuable reaction time may already be lost.
The challenge was therefore to create a solution that would deliver safety information directly to approaching drivers before they reached the incident location.
The objective was to transform conventional roadside safety measures into proactive digital alerts capable of supporting safer driving behaviour, reducing collision risks and improving protection for both road workers and motorists.
Initiative date
Who was/is your target audience?
Company employees
Fleet operators
Car drivers
Car drivers – professional
Emergency services
Public transport
Van drivers
Lorry/truck drivers
Others
Topic
Improve vehicles and infrastructure
Organisation details
Via Pribina/HAAS Alert
Enterprise
Slovakia
Nitra
Contact name
Mia Bajakova
Telephone number
0918751645
mia.bajakova@viapribina.sk
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
The project is based on a strategic partnership between Via Pribina Operations, the operator of the R1 expressway and part of VINCI Highways, and HAAS Alert, a global leader in connected road safety services.
Via Pribina provides operational expertise, highway maintenance activities, traffic management and the deployment of connected vehicle technology within its fleet.
HAAS Alert provides the Safety Cloud platform, enabling the collection, processing and distribution of digital road safety data to navigation providers and connected vehicle ecosystems.
Additional partners include navigation platforms such as Waze and Apple Maps, which deliver alerts directly to road users.
HAAS Alert also contributes to DFRS Europe, supporting the harmonisation and exchange of road hazard information across Europe and helping create a connected ecosystem linking road operators, navigation providers, freight carriers and vehicle manufacturers.
Via Pribina provides operational expertise, highway maintenance activities, traffic management and the deployment of connected vehicle technology within its fleet.
HAAS Alert provides the Safety Cloud platform, enabling the collection, processing and distribution of digital road safety data to navigation providers and connected vehicle ecosystems.
Additional partners include navigation platforms such as Waze and Apple Maps, which deliver alerts directly to road users.
HAAS Alert also contributes to DFRS Europe, supporting the harmonisation and exchange of road hazard information across Europe and helping create a connected ecosystem linking road operators, navigation providers, freight carriers and vehicle manufacturers.
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
The project established Europe’s first integrated digital driver alerting network on a PPP highway infrastructure. Implemented on the Via Pribina R1 expressway in Slovakia, the initiative connects highway maintenance and patrol vehicles with HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud platform and major navigation providers.
During the 7-month project period, Via Pribina equipped patrol vehicles with connected technology linked directly to vehicle warning lights. Whenever a patrol vehicle activates its amber or blue warning lights during an incident response, maintenance activity or traffic management operation, a digital safety event is automatically generated.
Using real-time GPS positioning, approaching drivers receive visual and audible alerts directly through navigation applications such as Waze and Apple Maps, as well as through compatible connected vehicle systems. The alerts are delivered only to relevant road users approaching the affected area.
This creates an additional digital layer of protection around road workers and incident responders. Drivers receive advance notice of potential hazards and are encouraged to reduce speed, increase attention and perform safer lane-change manoeuvres. The project effectively extends the visibility of roadside operations beyond the line of sight and provides drivers with valuable reaction time before reaching the hazard.
During the 7-month project period, Via Pribina equipped patrol vehicles with connected technology linked directly to vehicle warning lights. Whenever a patrol vehicle activates its amber or blue warning lights during an incident response, maintenance activity or traffic management operation, a digital safety event is automatically generated.
Using real-time GPS positioning, approaching drivers receive visual and audible alerts directly through navigation applications such as Waze and Apple Maps, as well as through compatible connected vehicle systems. The alerts are delivered only to relevant road users approaching the affected area.
This creates an additional digital layer of protection around road workers and incident responders. Drivers receive advance notice of potential hazards and are encouraged to reduce speed, increase attention and perform safer lane-change manoeuvres. The project effectively extends the visibility of roadside operations beyond the line of sight and provides drivers with valuable reaction time before reaching the hazard.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
The project successfully established an automated connection between highway patrol vehicles and widely used navigation platforms, creating a seamless digital safety ecosystem that enhances protection for both road operators and motorists.
Key implementation successes
- Integrated connected technology directly with vehicle warning lights, eliminating the need for manual incident reporting.
- Enabled operators to focus entirely on safety-critical activities while alerts were generated automatically.
- Achieved successful interoperability between road operations, navigation platforms, connected vehicles and infotainment systems, including rollout to the Škoda Auto Traffication app.
Main challenges overcome
- Ensuring accurate positioning, low latency and precise delivery of alerts.
- Preventing alert fatigue by targeting only drivers travelling on the affected route while excluding nearby roads and unrelated traffic.
- Optimising GPS positioning, data transmission and route matching through extensive testing.
Results achieved
- Delivered highly accurate alerts that provide drivers with sufficient reaction time at motorway speeds.
- Demonstrated that digital road safety data can be effectively integrated into everyday navigation tools.
- Created a scalable solution that does not require specialised vehicle equipment or proprietary systems.
- Showcased a practical model for connecting road infrastructure operations, navigation services and connected vehicle ecosystems.
Key implementation successes
- Integrated connected technology directly with vehicle warning lights, eliminating the need for manual incident reporting.
- Enabled operators to focus entirely on safety-critical activities while alerts were generated automatically.
- Achieved successful interoperability between road operations, navigation platforms, connected vehicles and infotainment systems, including rollout to the Škoda Auto Traffication app.
Main challenges overcome
- Ensuring accurate positioning, low latency and precise delivery of alerts.
- Preventing alert fatigue by targeting only drivers travelling on the affected route while excluding nearby roads and unrelated traffic.
- Optimising GPS positioning, data transmission and route matching through extensive testing.
Results achieved
- Delivered highly accurate alerts that provide drivers with sufficient reaction time at motorway speeds.
- Demonstrated that digital road safety data can be effectively integrated into everyday navigation tools.
- Created a scalable solution that does not require specialised vehicle equipment or proprietary systems.
- Showcased a practical model for connecting road infrastructure operations, navigation services and connected vehicle ecosystems.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
The initiative was evaluated during a continuous 7-month operational period on the R1 expressway network. The assessment focused on alert delivery performance, driver reach, system reliability and operational effectiveness.
During the evaluation period, more than 10,000 individual drivers received digital safety alerts related to active road operations and incidents. Because the system uses navigation applications already integrated into everyday driving behaviour, it achieved broad user reach without requiring additional public investment or behavioural change from road users.
The project has significantly strengthened protection for Via Pribina’s 34 highway operators who perform maintenance and incident response activities on the network. It has also improved driver awareness around active work zones and incident locations.
Beyond direct safety benefits, the system contributes to smoother traffic flow, supports safer lane changes near incidents and helps reduce the risk of secondary collisions. The results demonstrate that digital road safety alerts can effectively complement traditional roadside safety measures and create measurable benefits for both workers and motorists.
During the evaluation period, more than 10,000 individual drivers received digital safety alerts related to active road operations and incidents. Because the system uses navigation applications already integrated into everyday driving behaviour, it achieved broad user reach without requiring additional public investment or behavioural change from road users.
The project has significantly strengthened protection for Via Pribina’s 34 highway operators who perform maintenance and incident response activities on the network. It has also improved driver awareness around active work zones and incident locations.
Beyond direct safety benefits, the system contributes to smoother traffic flow, supports safer lane changes near incidents and helps reduce the risk of secondary collisions. The results demonstrate that digital road safety alerts can effectively complement traditional roadside safety measures and create measurable benefits for both workers and motorists.
What has been the effect of the activities?
This initiative addresses one of today's most significant road safety challenges: driver distraction. Rather than relying solely on physical roadside infrastructure, it delivers safety-critical information directly to drivers through technologies they already use every day.
The initiative is fully aligned with Via Pribina’s Safety First strategy, which prioritises the protection of road workers, maintenance crews and all motorists travelling on the R1 network.
The project demonstrates how digital road safety data can complement traditional safety measures and provide an additional layer of protection around roadside operations. It offers a practical, cost-effective and scalable solution that can be implemented without major infrastructure investments.
By pioneering this approach within the VINCI Highways network, Via Pribina has created a model that can be replicated by road operators, concessionaires and maintenance organisations across Europe.
Beyond driver alerts, the project highlights the wider value of digital road safety data for traffic management, incident response and connected mobility services. Through HAAS Alert’s participation in DFRS Europe, the initiative contributes to the development of harmonised road hazard data exchange and supports the future deployment of interoperable C-ITS and V2X services throughout Europe.
The initiative is fully aligned with Via Pribina’s Safety First strategy, which prioritises the protection of road workers, maintenance crews and all motorists travelling on the R1 network.
The project demonstrates how digital road safety data can complement traditional safety measures and provide an additional layer of protection around roadside operations. It offers a practical, cost-effective and scalable solution that can be implemented without major infrastructure investments.
By pioneering this approach within the VINCI Highways network, Via Pribina has created a model that can be replicated by road operators, concessionaires and maintenance organisations across Europe.
Beyond driver alerts, the project highlights the wider value of digital road safety data for traffic management, incident response and connected mobility services. Through HAAS Alert’s participation in DFRS Europe, the initiative contributes to the development of harmonised road hazard data exchange and supports the future deployment of interoperable C-ITS and V2X services throughout Europe.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
Following the success of the 7-month project on the R1 expressway, Via Pribina and HAAS Alert plan to further develop and promote this approach as a best practice for road maintenance and highway operators across Europe.
The next phase includes expanding the technology to remaining maintenance and subcontractor vehicles operating on the network, ensuring a consistent level of protection for both road workers and motorists.
Via Pribina also plans to further utilise digital road safety data within its traffic management and operational processes. By combining connected vehicle information, navigation-based incident reports and operational road data, the organisation aims to improve incident detection, situational awareness and response times.
At the European level, the project contributes to the broader development of connected mobility services. Through HAAS Alert’s role within DFRS Europe, road hazard information generated on the R1 network can become part of a wider data ecosystem connecting road operators, drivers, freight carriers, navigation providers and automotive manufacturers.
By supporting interoperability and data exchange, the initiative helps accelerate the deployment of future C-ITS and V2X services across Europe while providing a practical and scalable model for improving road worker safety and driver awareness.
The next phase includes expanding the technology to remaining maintenance and subcontractor vehicles operating on the network, ensuring a consistent level of protection for both road workers and motorists.
Via Pribina also plans to further utilise digital road safety data within its traffic management and operational processes. By combining connected vehicle information, navigation-based incident reports and operational road data, the organisation aims to improve incident detection, situational awareness and response times.
At the European level, the project contributes to the broader development of connected mobility services. Through HAAS Alert’s role within DFRS Europe, road hazard information generated on the R1 network can become part of a wider data ecosystem connecting road operators, drivers, freight carriers, navigation providers and automotive manufacturers.
By supporting interoperability and data exchange, the initiative helps accelerate the deployment of future C-ITS and V2X services across Europe while providing a practical and scalable model for improving road worker safety and driver awareness.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
The initiative has received extensive media coverage in Slovakia and internationally through industry publications, professional networks and road safety platforms. The project has been presented within the VINCI Highways network, shared with road operators and industry stakeholders, and highlighted as an innovative example of how connected vehicle technology can improve road worker safety.
Information about the project and its results has been disseminated through press releases, social media communications, professional conferences and stakeholder meetings. The initiative has also been promoted through HAAS Alert’s international channels and discussion with road safety profesionals, helping raise awareness of digital road safety solutions and encouraging wider adoption across the European road sector.
Information about the project and its results has been disseminated through press releases, social media communications, professional conferences and stakeholder meetings. The initiative has also been promoted through HAAS Alert’s international channels and discussion with road safety profesionals, helping raise awareness of digital road safety solutions and encouraging wider adoption across the European road sector.
Supporting materials
