Safety is an essential foundation for future mobility. In recognition of the UN’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on 17 November, ERTICO – ITS Europe highlights safety as a foundational building block underpinning every mobility innovation we aim to pursue with all partners and stakeholders.
While significant progress has been made in recent years, much remains to be done. Through our partnerships, European-funded projects, and innovation platforms, we aim to advance intelligent transport systems and safer, more sustainable mobility solutions that address the core safety needs of all road users. Across all domains, safety is embedded in each activity: From European-funded projects and Innovation Platforms to thought leadership initiatives and events, we aim to facilitate, support and contribute with innovative solutions that ensure safety in all transport systems.
European (co-)funded Projects
Many of the European co-funded projects drive substantial contributions to enhancing safety. For example, the EvoRoads project aims to accelerate the achievement of the European Union’s Vision Zero goal through a holistic framework of innovative models, tools, and services that enable the data-driven evolution of safety assessment frameworks. The project facilitates dynamic monitoring of cyber-physical infrastructures and promotes proactive warnings for safety risks in complex environments. It also defines safety criteria and quantification methodologies for KPIs, covering the entire spectrum of the ‘Safe System’ approach.
Another example is the V4SAFETY project which focuses on the safety of all road users. The project provides a prospective safety assessment framework that can handle a large variety of safety measures, ranging from in-vehicle safety technology, and infrastructure solutions to regulations that influence road user behaviour. Similarly, projects such as SUNRISE are working towards the development and provision of a harmonised and scalable CCAM Safety Assurance Framework and the SYNERGIES project, which began a few months ago, aims to set the global standard for the development and certification of automated mobility technologies by establishing a dynamic, continuously evolving platform for scenario-based validation and leveraging AI-driven innovations.
Within the focus on Connected, Cooperative & Automated Mobility, the ERTICO-coordinated European-funded project, FAME (Framework for coordination of Automated Mobility in Europe), aims to bring safety validation for automated driving by supporting the work of the CCAM Partnership and the European Commission for the identification of gaps and future research needs and innovation in the field. To address the remaining challenges, the project seeks to establish a European Framework for CCAM testing activities on public roads comprising a taxonomy, Common Evaluation Methodology, CCAM TDS and a legal & ethical framework.
FRODDO is another ERTICO-coordinated European co-funded project that is making significant strides in advancing road safety. The project uses artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and advanced sensors to create clear operational guidelines, known as operational design domains (ODDs), which define the conditions in which automated vehicles can function safely. FRODDO also uses a digital twin environment to simulate real-world scenarios, allowing researchers to test and refine mobility solutions before they are used on the road. By working closely with public authorities, road operators, and industry experts, FRODDO aims to improve road safety, reduce accidents and traffic issues, and support the shift to safer and more efficient transport systems.
Innovation Platforms
The power of data sharing is a cornerstone of the Data for Road Safety (DFRS) initiative. This platform aims to enhance road safety across Europe for all road users by fostering an inclusive and collaborative ecosystem that brings together vehicle manufacturers, service providers, automotive suppliers, and EU Member States’ transport ministries. The DFRS Safety-Related Traffic Information (SRTI) ecosystem provides a cooperative environment for public and private entities to share data in compliance with Delegated Regulation 886/2013. By collecting real-time road data, the platform helps mitigate crash risks, reduce response times, and deliver timely warning messages about hazardous events to road users. ERTICO CEO Joost Vantomme chairs the platform’s General Assembly, driving the initiative forward.
Other active platforms include ADASIS, promoting advanced driver assistance for enhanced road safety, SENSORIS, committed to defining the globally standardised interface that will result in new services and increased business opportunities as well as TM2.0 which aims to enhance new solutions for interactive traffic management systems focusing on the adaptation of real-time traffic conditions. It also provides a discussion forum for public and private stakeholders in the entire Traffic Management Procedure value chain.
ITS Congresses
Safety in mobility and transport also takes centre stage at the ITS Congresses, a landmark event where experts, innovators, and leaders convene to discuss and exchange knowledge on best practices, challenges, and innovations that help pave the way for safer transport systems. The next ITS European Congress in Seville, 19-21 May 2025, will host many discussions on safety-related topics, including modelling for resilient mobility, digitalisation, data technology, cyber security solutions for smart infrastructure, traffic management, and resilient infrastructure.
By integrating safety into every aspect of each activity, ERTICO is committed to realising a future where all transport and mobility solutions are built with safety as their core priority.
