The workshop titled “The Role of Society in Safety Validation of CCAM” brought together leading experts, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss the critical intersection of public trust, safety assurance, and inclusivity in Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) systems. The session, organised by ERTICO within the SUNRISE project, featured insights from ongoing projects like SINFONICA and OptiPex, which are working to redefine public transport and mobility through stakeholder engagement, advanced technologies, and co-creation strategies.
SINFONICA and OptiPex: Advancing Inclusive and Safe Mobility
Coordinated by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, the SINFONICA project focuses on developing methods to engage diverse stakeholders and address their needs, concerns, and aspirations regarding sustainable and inclusive mobility solutions. SINFONICA employs a wide array of data collection methods, ranging from interviews and focus groups to workshops and large-scale surveys. Over 5000 responses have already been gathered, revealing preliminary findings that emphasize safety, trust, and inclusivity.
Results from those responses highlight the importance of transparent communication in safety scenarios, including clear protocols for emergency support and driver training to manage passenger concerns. Privacy concerns related to surveillance technologies also emerged as a critical theme, highlighting the need for transparent policies and robust privacy protections. Trust in CCAM systems, particularly in remote or nighttime scenarios, remains closely tied to human or remote operator presence, reinforcing the significance of blending technological innovation with human oversight.
Similarly, the OptiPex project, coordinated by VTT in Finland, aims to optimize passenger experiences in public transport through ethical, inclusive, and data-driven solutions. The project spans 11 partners across Europe and emphasizes comfort, safety, and accessibility as core elements of its approach. By leveraging non-intrusive technologies and real-time data analytics, OptiPex seeks to develop adaptive services that address safety concerns and environmental discomforts while fostering inclusivity for passengers with specific needs, such as individuals with mobility or vision impairments.
A unique aspect of Optipex is its Living Labs approach, with demonstrations taking place in trams and shuttle buses across Austria, Finland, Spain, and Germany. These real-world settings allow researchers to validate proposed solutions while engaging passengers directly in the co-creation process. This model involves identifying user needs, developing mockups, testing them with target groups, and refining solutions before large-scale demonstrations.
Key Takeaways: Building Trust, Safety, and Inclusivity in CCAM Systems
Both projects highlighted challenges in the public perception of automated technologies. While participants generally expressed confidence in the safety of vehicles themselves, concerns centered on human behavior, such as harassing passengers, and the adequacy of quick-response mechanisms in emergencies. Ensuring the inclusion of vulnerable populations, such as individuals with disabilities or those requiring extra time to board, was identified as essential for fostering trust and societal acceptance.
Throughout the workshop, the importance of public engagement and transparent communication was emphasized as critical tools for addressing privacy and safety concerns, building trust, and ensuring inclusivity. Stakeholders acknowledged that effective dissemination strategies, such as engaging in social media campaigns, partnering with associations, and collaborating directly with underrepresented groups, are vital to reaching diverse audiences and highlighting the societal benefits of CCAM systems.
Another key topic was the alignment of safety frameworks across projects like SINFONICA and OptiPex. Discussions explored how data collected through surveys, focus groups, and public consultations could be used to shape safety standards, ensuring they reflect real-world user concerns. Collaborative opportunities to integrate simulation models and methodologies across projects were seen as promising steps toward advancing the shared goals of safety and inclusivity in CCAM.
Furthermore, the coordinator of the CCAM SUNRISE project, Stefan de Vries, remarked that while the SUNRISE project focuses on validating the safety of automation systems—something that, based on interactions with citizens from the two projects, does not appear to be a major concern—recommendations for future extensions of the framework could address issues of inclusiveness, such as accessibility for boarding automated vehicles, safety considerations for impaired users, and the incorporation of related criteria. This collaborative approach to future developments is seen as essential to advancing the field of automated mobility, also providing valuable insights and recommendations for future research.
As the workshop concluded, participants expressed optimism about the future of CCAM systems and the potential for projects like SINFONICA and OptiPex to drive innovation in mobility. The commitment to ongoing collaboration and the exchange of ideas underscored a collective determination to address societal challenges and ensure that CCAM systems meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve. By prioritizing inclusivity, safety, and public trust, these initiatives are paving the way for a more connected and equitable future in mobility.
You can now watch it here.
