Emergency services

The road safety challenge lies within slowly moving unstable terrain in the vicinity of roads, railways and waterways that is not monitored at all. Dismantling of parts of the mass would result in severe damage to the infrastructure and vehicles/persons passing by.

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.

The Short Course in Road Safety, Mobility and Health addressed the need for stronger interdisciplinary understanding of the relationship between road safety, health, mobility and safe participation in transport. Road safety challenges are not only technical or enforcement-related; they are also influenced by human behaviour, health status, ageing, disability, rehabilitation needs, distraction, professional practice, and wider mobility systems.

The initiative responded to a gap in structured education for professionals whose work may affect, advise or support road users, but who may not always receive formal training on the links between health, mobility and road safety. The course aimed to improve awareness of safe mobility, medical and functional considerations, rehabilitation/adaptations, human factors, active travel, and the wider policy context, including Vision Zero and Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030.

A key challenge addressed was bringing together diverse professional perspectives so that road safety is understood as a shared responsibility across health, transport, rehabilitation, public health and related disciplines.

ASPI acknowledges the need to build an integrated ecosystem encompassing infrastructure, vehicles, traffic management, and data governance.
On a motorway network, one of the most critical risks arises from the coexistence of live traffic and maintenance worksites, which exposes two groups of people to hazard every day: road users and site operators. Managing this overlap across an infrastructure of around 3,000 km calls for an innovative and systemic approach.
The “Advanced Traffic Mobility Management System” project therefore, stems from the clear goal of structurally reducing risk exposure by acting in an integrated manner on planning and information, such as:
optimizing the planning of roadworks by scheduling them in time windows with lower traffic volume, to reduce interference between traffic flows and operational activities; strengthening user information through advanced tools to anticipate traffic conditions and enable safer, more informed mobility choices.
The initiative is fully aligned with the EU’s Vision Zero-zero road deaths by 2050 and halving deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

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.

Urban environments present significant safety challenges for commercial vehicle operators, particularly when vulnerable road users (VRUs) such as pedestrians and cyclists interact with large vehicles. While existing regulations and safety systems have improved protection, important gaps remain.

Most current side-detection systems are designed primarily to detect cyclists travelling at speed and focus on straight-line scenarios. However, many serious incidents occur when vehicles move off or turn, particularly involving slow-moving pedestrians, older people, children, and other vulnerable road users. Existing systems can also generate excessive false alarms, causing drivers to become desensitised to warnings and reducing their effectiveness.

Radar Predict Plus was developed to address these challenges. By combining radar technology with AI-powered camera analytics, the system accurately identifies vulnerable road users while filtering out irrelevant objects and minimising unnecessary alerts. It provides targeted warnings only when a genuine risk exists, helping drivers stay focused and respond effectively.

The initiative addresses a critical safety gap by improving protection in real-world operating conditions, particularly at low speeds and during manoeuvres where vulnerable road users are most at risk.

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.