Car drivers

Night-time road safety represents one of the most critical challenges in Italy, particularly for young adults aged 18–35. National and local statistics show that the most severe road accidents occur during night-time hours and weekends, when alcohol consumption, fatigue and reduced visibility significantly increase risk. In urban areas such as Rome, these risks are amplified by the lack of frequent night public transport, especially after large events and festivals.

Young people returning from concerts, nightlife venues or university events often rely on private cars, increasing exposure to driving under the influence, distraction and speeding. Road crashes remain the leading cause of death among young people in Europe, and Italy continues to record a road mortality rate above the EU average.

Events and festivals represent peak-risk scenarios: thousands of people leave the same venue ensuring congestion, late-night driving and impaired decision-making. Despite this, traditional road safety policies rarely address mobility during events in a structured way.

CBH addresses this gap by focusing specifically on organised night-time transport during high-risk hours (typically between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM), providing a safe, collective alternative to private car use. The initiative directly tackles behavioural risk factors by removing the need to drive after social events, targeting the exact context and time window where the probability of severe accidents is highest.

Over the past ten years, we have collaborated with local governments to install 206 smart traffic systems across Slovenia, including speed displays, COPS@road systems, and safety distance monitors. Each installation involves selecting critical points, implementing the system, and monitoring traffic data before and after to evaluate effectiveness. In 2025, we’re focusing on cyclist safety, adding 16 new systems that also warn about cyclists.

The main challenge addressed by this practice is the traditional barrier to entry for deep-tech innovation: the need for large, specialized, and expensive development teams. This often slows down a project's ability to adapt and innovate, especially for mission-driven initiatives with limited initial resources.

The primary challenge we address is not a single road safety issue, but the systemic limitation of a reactive mindset. Current technology platforms often create data monopolies, lack interoperability, and are driven by profit motives rather than public interest. This creates a barrier to building a truly integrated, trustworthy, and proactive safety ecosystem that public authorities can rely on and help shape.

The first major challenge was to make this pastoral action known within the Church's own structure in Ourense. The CEE's Road Pastoral Department was created in Spain more than 50 years ago, but in many dioceses, no initiatives are carried out and priests are unaware of it. The surprising thing was that families, communities, and neighbors, as soon as we began working on these initiatives, began to follow us, asking for more action, and feeling supported in the loneliness caused by the loss of a loved one, a friend, a neighbor, or a car accident. Every year, the number of people participating in the scheduled sessions increases.

Our initiative addresses critical road safety challenges that are often overlooked in traditional driver education. Most driving schools focus on basic vehicle operation, but not on real-life risk anticipation, distraction management, or defensive mindset.

Key problems tackled by our VR Defensive Driving System include:

Driver distraction, especially due to smartphones and infotainment systems

Poor anticipation of traffic risks, particularly in urban and mixed traffic

Lack of situational awareness and understanding of the “big picture” around the vehicle

Insufficient consideration for other road users, including vulnerable groups

Specific risks related to pedestrians and cyclists, especially in city environments

Our project empowers drivers of all ages and experience levels to build mental habits that keep them and others safe – by learning to observe more, react earlier, and drive smarter.

Nextop Co-pilot is an intelligent driving assistant app designed to enhance road safety and operational efficiency for professional drivers. It operates fully offline using preloaded routes and special geofences to deliver real-time, on-edge audio alerts—no network connection required.

By combining GPS tracking with customizable geofence zones, the app provides precise voice guidance about critical road segments, including dangerous curves, steep downhills, speed limits, obstacle zones, and other risk areas. Fleet operators can personalize messages per route or region, offering context-aware advice that improves driver awareness and decision-making.

The solution also integrates vehicle health data, enabling real-time alerts for issues like overheating, brake wear, or system warnings—helping to prevent breakdowns and improve maintenance planning.

All processing happens directly on the device, ensuring fast, reliable alerts even in remote areas. Designed for fleets and logistics operations, Nextop Co-pilot empowers drivers with the information they need, exactly when they need it—boosting safety, compliance, and route efficiency.