Young adults 17-25

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.

Young and inexperienced drivers are a key target group for road safety because safe driving requires more than passing a formal test. It requires understanding rules, recognising risks, building long-term knowledge and applying that knowledge under pressure. Traditional theory education can be limited by fixed course times, uneven learner engagement, fragmented communication and a lack of real-time visibility into individual weaknesses. As a result, some learners only discover knowledge gaps shortly before the exam or after they enter traffic as licensed drivers. DriveHero addresses this challenge by moving the driving school process into a digital, data-supported and learner-centred environment. The platform helps learners prepare more consistently, at their own pace and with targeted support. Its AI assistant, Aurum, provides 24/7 guidance, while analytics and reporting help driving instructors identify where learners need additional explanation or practice. By making learning more personalised, transparent and accessible, DriveHero aims to improve theory knowledge, increase exam readiness and contribute to safer behaviour among new drivers.

Hasselt University in Diepenbeek, Belgium, is home to one of the top transport engineering graduate programmes, the Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), and as such, attracts top talent from around the world. Around 80% of international students (713 students at the time) come from outside the European Union; meanwhile, the urban environment around Hasselt’s campus is a complex cycling network reflecting the mature cycling culture in Belgium, wherein the majority of Hasselt students commute by bicycle.

For the 713 students coming from outside the EU, largely from Africa and Asia, this can feel like a culture shock, leading to unsafe road behaviour or avoidance of cycling altogether, despite it typically being the most inexpensive and reliable commuting mode for students. A needs assessment survey to 53 international students found outsized fears around cycling and walking to campus, and pinpointed 14 critically unsafe cycling intersections.

This assessment revealed a need for dedicated orientation sessions for international students on cycling, targeted course materials on the local cycling and pedestrian culture, an awareness campaign, and targeted recommendations for top unsafe intersections around campus. These activities would not only keep students safe, but also support their inclusion and integration into Hasselt’s vibrant student culture.

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.

Road safety still faces a critical blind spot: vehicles are increasingly advanced, but they remain vulnerable when the road surface suddenly loses grip. Snow and ice are among the most dangerous examples, because they reduce tyre-road friction, increase braking distances, compromise steering control and can trigger loss-of-control events before the driver or the vehicle can react effectively.
This is not a marginal issue. According to the World Health Organization, road crashes still cause around 1.19 million deaths every year, and urgent action is needed to halve deaths and injuries by 2030. Weather-related risks are also measurable: FHWA data for the United States show that weather-related crashes account for nearly 745,000 crashes per year on average, with freezing precipitation alone linked to about 219,942 crashes, 34,206 injuries and 407 fatalities annually.
AIS 2 addresses this challenge by moving beyond detection and driver warning. It is designed to actively improve grip conditions on snow and ice, helping vehicles maintain control in situations where conventional ADAS, braking and stability systems are limited by the physical lack of friction. The goal is simple: prevent avoidable accidents caused by low-grip winter conditions.

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.

The Drogowskaz Programme (Signpost Programme) addresses Poland's persistent road safety crisis, which remains among the EU's most severe. Our diagnosis, drawn from 663 grant applications and 44 funded projects in the 2025 edition identifies three interconnected challenge areas.
In Poland, notable educational gaps persist in the area of practical road safety education. Opportunities for hands‑on learning in real traffic conditions are limited or, in many cases, entirely absent. Only a small number of schools provide practical training in simulated environments, and the overall system places relatively little emphasis on developing consistent, experience‑based safety habits. Emerging risks like: smartphones and headphones distracting pedestrians, e-scooters and varied micromobility remain an issue insufficiently addressed. Adults frequently model and reinforce unsafe behaviours for children because of limited enforcement of traffic regulations.
Infrastructure deficits: rural and small-town areas often lack pavements, cycling paths, road markings, lighting and traffic-calming measures, particularly around schools and kindergartens. Practical training facilities, traffic-education parks are scarce, leaving children without safe spaces to develop cycling and pedestrian skills.
Vulnerable groups: preschoolers, adolescents aged 12-15, deaf children (with virtually no accessible materials), children with disabilities and those from disadvantaged families face systemic exclusion from road safety education. The Drogowskaz Programme reflects the core values of our founding organisation, which has a long‑standing commitment to education, volunteering, emergency response, and comprehensive road‑safety initiatives—both for the wider public and for its own employees.