Expert panel session: “Safety in an evolving road mobility environment”
As part of the SAFE-UP project kick-off meeting, the consortium organised a panel discussion titled ‘Safety in an evolving road mobility environment’. The session gathered experts from multiple European organisations working to make our roads and streets safer via different approaches. This multi-actor approach is at the core of SAFE-UP’s ambition to work towards proactively protecting people inside and outside of the vehicle.
Moderating the panel discussion, Dr. Evangelos Bekiaris, the president of the European Conference of Transport Research Institutes (ECTRI), said that one of the most fascinating aspects of the project is its plan to identify future road users and how best to protect them.
Lina Konstantinopoulou, EuroRAP’s Secretary General, explained the programme's vision of a Europe free from high-risk roads, highlighting the scale of the challenge. With the right infrastructure, future mobility developments in SAFE-UP are an opportunity to make roads safer for everyone.
Meanwhile, ERTICO’s Innovation and Deployment Director, Johanna Tzanidaki, stressed that improving road safety is not a simple question of technology. It’s about governance, infrastructure and, most importantly, people. SAFE-UP’s holistic approach will help ensure all stakeholders are involved in the process.
POLIS’ Senior Policy and Project Manager, Pedro Homem de Gouveia, pointed out that progress in tackling road fatalities has stalled because it has mainly benefitted drivers; not the vulnerable road users. "Investment in road safety is an investment in sustainable mobility," he said, as he urged the SAFE-UP partners to tackle the challenge of making the first-mile area both safe and attractive for pedestrians and cyclists.
Finally, Jeannot Mersch, FEVR’S president, explained the principles of the ‘Vision Zero in Cities’ programme. This global initiative aims for zero road traffic-related deaths and serious injuries in built-up areas by 2030. As Jeannot explained, “If a street is safe for children, it is safe for everyone”.
All these organisations will remain involved during the execution of SAFE-UP as active members of the Panel of External Stakeholders and the project Advisory Board. As part of this agreement, all will support SAFE-UP’s development, by specifically advising on quality review of project results.
You can download their full presentations below.
Dr. Evangelos Bekiaris - ECTRI
Lina Konstantinopoulou - EuroRAP
