The EU-funded Road Safety Exchange project, celebrated as a catalyst for life-saving initiatives across Europe, has been announced as a recipient of a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.
The project, an initiative funded by the European Parliament and managed by the European Transport Safety Council on behalf of the European Commission, brings together the expertise of national representatives from EU member states.
Its aim is to share best practice and fast-track road safety improvements.
In its three-year pilot phase, the project has included the adoption of Dutch-inspired cycling infrastructure improvements in Lithuania, harmonised day and nighttime urban speed limits in Poland, and the announcement of robust national road safety strategies in Greece and Portugal.
Participants have also had the chance to witness cutting-edge road safety enforcement technologies, such as the pioneering use of artificial intelligence-based cameras to detect hand-held mobile phone use while driving in the Netherlands.
In Ireland, experts observed roadside testing for drug use, while in Sweden, they delved into the integration of medical data with police-generated statistics, offering policymakers a more accurate understanding of key road safety challenges.
As well as receiving a Prince Michael Award, it has also been announced that the project has been extended for a further three years.
Adina Vălean, European commissioner for transport, said: “I welcome that the EU Road Safety Exchange project is being relaunched for another three years.
“It is an example of European cooperation, uniting experts from nineteen Member States with a shared dedication to exchanging knowledge, ideas, and technology to save lives on our roads.”
Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the ETSC, said: “This project thrives on immersing experts and policymakers in real-life road safety solutions.
“From cycling through the Netherlands’ urban cycle lane network to touring France’s national traffic camera enforcement centre, there’s no substitute for firsthand experience.”
It is anticipated that more Prince Michael Award recipients will be announced in the run up to the annual awards ceremony, hosted in December.
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