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The first webinar of the EU Road Safety Cluster, held on 25 February, was attended by more than 90 stakeholders and highlighted the complex road safety challenges of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users (VRUs) and the potential solutions of the six cluster projects.

Road safety has different facets, including prevention, infrastructure investment, communication between different road user groups, as well as modelling, AI, and satellite-based solutions. Even though all six cluster projects have the same aim of reducing crashes and fatalities, each of the projects presented a different angle in a short presentation and discussion format:

SOTERIA, presented by University of Deusto. The project aims to use novel data solutions to identify near misses and other actions around unsafe locations by utilising vehicle-, cell phone and micro-mobility data that is used by linear models and deep learning solutions.

PHOEBE, presented by iRAP, develops an integrated, dynamic, human-centred predictive safety assessment framework by bringing together traffic simulation, road safety assessment, data concerning human behaviour and mode shift, and demand modelling of new and emerging mobility data. The results will be a blueprint for other European cities to develop their knowledge products, such as socioeconomic analysis models, urban road safety assessments, and human behaviour and choice modelling.

AI4CCAM, presented by Simula Research Lab. As its name suggests, AI4CCAM uses a holistic approach to AI to assess automated driving and its user acceptance, which is fostered through user-centric aspects, including citizen-participation structures. The latter is supported by an online Participatory Space, which was launched recently.

HEIDI, presented by Virtual Vehicle Research, enhances the communication between the vehicle and vulnerable road users, such as cyclists or pedestrians, by conveying information to both sides of the vehicle (inside & outside). The research will help to facilitate the shift from manually driven passenger vehicles to automated vehicles. HEIDIs solutions guarantee that all road users have the same understanding of the situation and ensure safe interaction between vehicles and vulnerable road users.

FRODDO, presented by National Technical University of Athens, is advancing automated and connected mobility by developing safer, smarter, and more adaptable transportation systems using advanced sensing, AI, and digital twin simulations. It focuses on creating a resilient and scalable framework for automated vehicles while prioritising user safety and societal impact.

EVENTS, presented by ICCS, focuses on challenges that arise when Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) encounter complex situations that could disrupt their normal operation, such as dynamic traffic changes, harsh weather, sensor failures, or unstructured roads. These challenges include improving perception in adverse conditions, accurate trajectory prediction, reducing sensor costs, and enhancing self-assessment of perception systems to ensure safe and reliable automated driving.

Watch the webinar recording!