Seniors

To warn road users of a danger on a road section, for instance following an accident, and to divert the traffic in a safe direction, traditionally wind-powered torches made of wax material are used. This solution implies some relevant road safety problems. First, exposure and risks for operators, on one side of being hit by vehicles while torches are placed on the road surface and turned on, on the other side of being wounded by open flames. Furthermore, damage of the asphalt on which torches are placed during use, compromising its useful time, and lack of practicality since they are made of fibrous materials and wax and can’t be extinguished even if no longer needed.
Every year road workers and emergency operators are injured or killed while deploying temporary warning devices in live traffic environments. Flash-Led was conceived to eliminate this exposure by enabling remote deployment of warning systems and significantly improving operator safety.
The present invention relates to a road signalling system aimed to substitute the traditional use of wind-powered torches, allowing an effective signalling of danger and/or obstruction and/or traffic channelling, ensuring the complete operators safety, avoiding infrastructure damages and, furthermore, informing road users through road navigation platforms. The solution includes n. 4 electric movable elements signalling with high visibility LEDs, remotely controlled by an operator from a plurality of possible schemes and arranged in an easily transportable container, which can reports the danger to users through platforms like Google/Waze etc.

Deaths from road traffic accidents had increased in Ireland from 171 (2024) to 185 (2025) as traffic on all roads was increasing. Measured traffic between Junctions 13 and 14 on the M18 motorway that passes through County Clare saw an increase in monthly average daily traffic of greater than 10% over two years. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists were also suffering increasing injuries on our roads. Motorways and secondary roads were increasingly being closed due to traffic incidents. Some older drivers had never undergone a driving test and many had received driving licences before motorways and complex roundabouts became a feature of our roads in County Clare. Nationally, there was no programme to assist and educate older drivers on correct road usage. The approach was roads policing to enforce legislation and there was an emphasis on controlling speed.

In 2020, we undertook a comprehensive review of our vehicle safety strategy. At that time, our primary focus was on accident management, driver safety, and identifying ways to reduce both the risks our employees faced while driving and the potential risks our vehicles posed to other road users. By "posed," we refer to the fact that our fleet consisted of relatively basic vehicles, with few advanced safety features included as standard.

The initiative presented several challenges. Cost was a significant consideration, as we needed to build a strong business case to justify the additional investment required for enhanced vehicle safety features. We also needed to engage with a workforce that had strong trade union representation, making consultation and communication an essential part of the implementation process.

The programme began with the delivery of our first upgraded vehicles in 2020. At a time when advanced safety technologies attracted a substantial premium, we made a deliberate decision to invest heavily in improving the safety of our fleet. Looking back, that investment has proven to be highly successful. The results have clearly demonstrated the value of prioritising vehicle safety, with a significant positive impact on both driver protection and overall risk reduction.

Operating a national fleet of over 850 vehicles supporting more than 2,000 employees presents a unique range of road safety challenges. Employees travel daily to high-risk environments including railway level crossings, bridges, trackside locations and busy public roads, often transporting specialised equipment and working under time-critical conditions. Protecting employees and other road users while maintaining operational effectiveness remains a key priority.

Before the introduction of GSR, we had already made significant investments in vehicle safety. This included implementing telematics systems, forward- and rear-facing dash cams, and, most importantly, passive safety features across our fleet. These measures helped improve driver behaviour monitoring, incident reporting, and occupant protection. The main challenge was the cost and logistics of upgrading vehicles and ensuring consistent implementation across the fleet. However, by taking a proactive approach to safety rather than waiting for regulatory requirements, we were able to enhance driver and passenger protection, reduce risk, and establish a strong safety culture within the organisation.

One of the principal challenges has been reducing occupational road risk by ensuring that both the driver and vehicle are fit for purpose. Experience gained through managing large commercial fleets has shown that vehicle safety alone is not enough; driver behaviour, competency, fatigue awareness and vehicle utilisation all play a critical role in reducing incidents. Historically, many organisations have relied on reactive measures following collisions. Our approach has been to move towards proactive risk management.

Additional challenges included integrating specialist railway maintenance equipment safely within vehicles, adapting to emerging technologies, and preparing for the transition to electric vehicles without compromising safety standards. The increasing complexity of modern vehicle technology also required continuous education and engagement with drivers to ensure advanced safety systems were fully understood and effectively utilised.

The Tarandė Street reconstruction project was developed to address several significant road safety challenges in a rapidly growing residential area of Vilnius. Increasing traffic volumes, combined with insufficient infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, created safety risks for vulnerable road users and reduced the attractiveness of active mobility options.
Prior to the project, pedestrian and cycling connections were fragmented, and road users frequently shared space with motor vehicles. The lack of continuous and dedicated infrastructure increased the risk of conflicts between different road users, particularly children, older adults, and people travelling on foot or by bicycle. In addition, traffic speeds and limited visibility in certain areas contributed to an increased risk of road incidents.
The project aimed to improve safety for all road users while prioritising the needs of vulnerable groups. Key objectives included reducing the likelihood and severity of traffic collisions, improving the quality and continuity of pedestrian and cycling routes, enhancing visibility at crossings and intersections, and creating a safer and more accessible public space.
Through the development of new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, safer street design solutions, and improved connectivity with residential areas and public transport, the project promotes safer travel, encourages sustainable mobility choices, and supports the creation of a more people-centred urban environment. The project contributes to Vilnius City's long-term vision of achieving safer, more inclusive, and more sustainable streets for all.

Nea Odos operates one of Greece's most strategically important motorway corridors - the 196 km Ionia Odos (A5), part of the European E65 route At Nea Odos, road safety relies on a coordinated ecosystem of processes, systems, human and material resources. Our daily goal is to enhance operational capacity through innovation with measurable improvements in detection and response times, while setting a benchmark for the industry.
To support this goal, we deployed an AI-powered system for 24/7 maintenance, surveillance, and driver information, along the entire length of the Ionia Odos highway addressing critical motorway safety challenges such as animal incursions, pedestrian presence, vehicles moving against traffic etc These high-risk events require significant resources and are often linked to severe incidents.
Traditional monitoring systems rely on fixed infrastructure with limited coverage and adaptability. Furthermore, the growing number of data sources—sensors, navigation apps, crowd inputs, and weather data—often leads to fragmentation, operator overload, and inconsistent alerts. As a result, operators must cross-check multiple systems, delaying event validation, response, and communication.
To address these challenges, Nea Odos partnered with Valerann to integrate AI-powered cameras, geolocation and multi-source data analytics into a unified platform - Lanternn. Goal to improve detection speed and accuracy, reduces response times, and enable faster, targeted response.
By integrating diverse data Nea Odos is advancing safer, smarter motorway operations without costly infrastructure expansion.

Road accidents are a leading cause of non-natural death in Spain and generate disability and social costs.

This project would be situated in the pre-accident phase, characterized by intervention on the human factor from a healthcare perspective.

Directive (EU) 2025/2205 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Article 11: Compliance with minimum physical and mental fitness requirements. Point 7: This Article shall not prevent Member States from adopting measures to raise awareness and improve the knowledge of the healthcare sector and driving licence holders regarding the minimum physical and mental fitness requirements for driving set out in Annex III.

Thus, within traffic medicine, we understand this to be the branch concerned with the analysis, detection, and prevention of the human factors involved in the causes of road accidents, through the adaptation and modification of behaviors, attitudes, and habits related to traffic and road use.

Therefore, this project brings together epidemiological and preventive criteria to be included in the concept of traffic medicine and in the area of Primary Care (Health Center/family medicine).