Event

How can we design roads and streets that truly protect vulnerable road users – while supporting more walking and cycling?

At this year’s last SAFER Research Day, we explore how research, innovation, and collaboration can drive safer and more sustainable infrastructure. Through shared learning and diverse perspectives, we’ll discuss how design, technology, and behaviour can come together to create a transport system where everyone is safe.

The morning features a keynote by Sonja Forward (VTI & FOT), presentations from SAFER-connected projects, and a panel dialogue on how Sweden can reach Vision Zero for pedestrians and cyclists.

Registration: Please sign up here prior to December 1.

 

DRAFT AGENDA

08:00 Morning coffee and networking

08:30 Welcome and introduction of today’s agenda, Magnus Granström, SAFER

08:35 Keynote by Sonja Forward, "Factors influencing modal choice and how to understand the process of change", Senior Research Leader, VTI & Chairperson, The Swedish Pedestrians’ Association (FOT)

Drawing on her extensive research in pedestrian safety, sustainable mobility, and behavioural change, Sonja Forward shares insights from both academia and advocacy work to inspire safer and more inclusive walking environments.

Presentations from SAFER connected projects

09:05-09:15    SuperSafe, Carmelo D’Agostino, Lund University

09:15-09:25    AfroSAFE, Carmelo D’Agostino, Lund University

09:25-09:35    Leg stretcher

09:30-09:45    REALLOCATE, Karin Jonson and Jonas Malmryd, City of Gothenburg

09:45-09:55    FOI project Trafiksäkerhetslyftet & SAFER Cities, Hanna Wennberg, Lund University/Trivector and Ines Heinig, SAFER’s operational team

09:55-10:10    Poster pitches:

• Driver behaviour on 2+1 roads, Johan Olstam, VTI (online)
• Here I Go, Oscar Molina, Halmstad University
• MEGABITS, Pontus Wallgren, Chalmers University
• NOAI, Yinan Yu, Chalmers University of Technology
• Speed Reducing Measures On Rural Roads, Carl Johnsson, Lund University
• STIG, Daniel Rudmark, VTI
• TWIN-SAFE, Carmelo D’agostino, Lund University
• Distracted pedestrians: Digital devices and safety at tram stops, Mikael Johansson, Chalmers University
   

10:10-10:50    Networking break and poster session (at the SAFER premises, floor 2)

10:50-11:05    The SAFER working group for Safe Infrastructure, Maria Håkansson, Guidance To Zero and Carmelo D’agostino, Lund University

11:05-11:15    The Walking Centre at Luleå University of Technology – A new national hub for pedestrian research, Charlotta Johansson, Luleå University

An introduction to the newly established Walking Centre (Gångcentrum) at Luleå University of Technology – a national platform dedicated to research, innovation, and collaboration on walking, pedestrian safety, and sustainable mobility. Charlotta will present the centre’s vision, focus areas, and how it aims to strengthen knowledge and policy development for safer and more walkable environments in Sweden.

11:15-11:25    The Swedish Pedestrians’ Association – Who They Are and What They Advocate For, Sonja Forward, Chairperson, FOT (Fotgängarnas förening)

An introduction to the Swedish Pedestrians’ Association (FOT), highlighting their mission, ongoing initiatives, and key advocacy areas to improve safety, accessibility, and conditions for pedestrians in Sweden. Sonja Forward will share insights into the association’s current priorities, collaborations, and perspectives on how pedestrian safety and infrastructure can be strengthened within the broader context of sustainable mobility.

11:30-12:05    Panel discussion: Safe and active Streets: Achieving Vision Zero for pedestrians and cyclists

How can Sweden achieve the goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries among pedestrians and cyclists while at the same time meeting the objectives of increased active mobility? From a public health perspective, walking and cycling must increase substantially in the future. At the same time, single-bicycle and pedestrian crashes – particularly fall-related accidents – currently constitute by far the largest group of seriously injured. What strategies, technologies, infrastructure solutions and behavioural interventions are needed to simultaneously promote safety and active mobility?

Panelists

• Carmelo D’agostino, Lund University
• Charlotta Johansson, Gångcentrum
• Maria Håkansson, Guidance to Zero
• Maria Olsson, City of Gothenburg
• Sonja Forward, Fotgängarnas Förening (FOT)

The dialogue is moderated by Magnus Granström.

12:10-12:15    Summary of the day, Magnus Granström     

12:15-13:00    Networking lunch

ABOUT THE PROJECTS

AfroSAFE – Advancing Road Safety for Vulnerable Road Users in Africa
AfroSAFE, a SAFER-associated project funded by the Horizon Europe programme, is working to radically improve road safety in low- and middle-income African countries through the Safe System approach. Despite only 4% of the world’s vehicles, Africa accounts for over 10% of global traffic deaths – most of them pedestrians and cyclists.

So far, the project has trained local experts and decision-makers across several countries, building capacity and sharing practical tools to create safer streets for vulnerable road users. By promoting safe speeds, forgiving road design, and shared responsibility, AfroSAFE is laying the foundation for a sustainable, inclusive and life-saving safety culture rooted in African contexts. Read more here!

SAFER partners: Lund University, VTI, Volvo Group, Autoliv and Chalmers Industriteknik

MegaBITS: ITS Solutions for Safer and Smarter Cycling
The MegaBITS project explores how Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) can enhance safety and promote cycling as part of a sustainable urban mobility system. Building on the successful BITS project, MegaBITS implements and evaluates smart cycling solutions—such as connected corridors and adaptive traffic lights—in five European flagship cities, including Copenhagen, Antwerp, and Hamburg.

By combining infrastructure-based and floating bike data, the project advances understanding of cyclist behaviour and supports evidence-based design of safe infrastructure for VRUs. Results will be shared through open data platforms to accelerate knowledge transfer and replication. Read more here!

SAFER partner: Chalmers University of Technology

No AI About Us Without Us: Enhancing Safety for VRUs with Reduced Mobility
The project NoAI focuses on improving safety for VRUs with reduced mobility in diverse traffic environments. Led by Chalmers’ REVERE lab, the project analyses motion patterns and safety challenges, addressing both objective and perceived risks.

Using the research vehicle SnowFox, equipped with advanced sensors, the project collects open-source data to support the development of AI-based monitoring and active safety systems. By highlighting bias and accessibility in AI design, NoAI contributes to safer, more inclusive, and equitable transport infrastructure. Read more here!

SAFER partners: Chalmers, Chalmers industriteknik, Boid, University of Gothenburg

Here I Go
The project Here I Go aims to improve protection for VRUs by developing innovative, connected solutions within Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS). Led by Halmstad University and funded by Skyltfonden, the project builds on SAFER’s pre-study on human factors and risks in connected and automated mobility.

A key outcome is a prototype of a standard-compliant embedded system for bicycles, scooters, and pedestrian equipment, enabling reliable V2X communication of VRU intentions to vehicles and infrastructure. This novel protocol enhances interaction, reduces crash risks, and contributes to safe infrastructure and Vision Zero goals. Read more here!

SAFER partner: Halmstad University

REALLOCATE: Transforming Urban Mobility for a Sustainable and Safe Future
The EU-funded project REALLOCATE aims to transform European cities into inclusive, green, and safe environments that promote active and sustainable mobility. Within the theme of Safe Infrastructure and Vulnerable Road Users, the project develops and tests innovative urban design and behavioural solutions to reduce risks and support a shift towards active travel.

Through Safe & Sustainable Mobility Labs (SSML) in ten Mission Cities, including Gothenburg, REALLOCATE pilots co-designed, data-driven, and citizen-centred interventions. The project fosters knowledge transfer and replication, contributing to safer streets and more sustainable urban mobility systems. Read more here!

SAFER partners: City of Gothenburg, Halmstad University, Chalmers University of Technology

SAFER Cities
The pre-study SAFER Cities explores how traffic safety can become an integral part of sustainable urban and regional mobility. Municipalities and regions play a crucial role in shaping safe infrastructure and protecting vulnerable road users while meeting climate and inclusion goals.

The project identifies needs, collaboration models, and knowledge gaps to better connect research with real-life implementation. By bridging traffic safety research and local decision-making, SAFER Cities aims to build a long-term platform supporting evidence-based planning and safer, more sustainable transport systems. Read more here!

SAFER partners: Lund University, Chalmers and City of Gothenburg

Speed Reducing Measures On Rural Roads
This project explores how the design of speed-reducing measures on rural roads can enhance safe infrastructure and protect VRUs. Building on the earlier project “Evaluation of Speed-Reducing Measures on Rural Roads”, which assessed 34 different designs, the study investigates why some solutions are more effective than others. By analysing both engineering factors (e.g. road width, curvature, speed limits) and human perception, the project provides insights for safer rural road design. The main findings and recommendations will be presented at the event, contributing to knowledge on effective infrastructure for VRU safety. Read more here!

SAFER partner: Lund University

STIG: Smart Technology for Safer Pedestrian and Bicycle Paths
This project develops an AI-based method for efficient data collection and analysis of pedestrian and bicycle paths to enhance safe infrastructure and promote sustainable mobility. By adapting road technology and validating against established standards, the project will deliver a prototype (TRL 5–6) enabling systematic condition assessment and rapid detection of safety issues.

The results will provide municipalities with a cost-effective tool for evidence-based maintenance and investment decisions, improving accessibility and safety for VRUs and supporting active travel. Read more here.

SAFER partners: VTI & Univrses

SUperSAFE – Understanding Risks in the Transition to Automated Driving
The SAFER-associated project SUperSAFE, led by Lund University and funded by the European Research Council, explored how connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) interact with conventional traffic – including vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

The project developed new proactive methods to estimate safety risks during the transition towards full automation, focusing on how both digital and physical road infrastructure influence interactions in mixed-traffic environments.

By identifying and addressing the newly emerging risks of automation, SUperSAFE contributes to a safer and more inclusive mobility system, ensuring that the path to automated driving benefits all road users – not least those most exposed. Read more here!

SAFER partner: Lund University

FOI project Trafiksäkerhetslyftet: Strengthening Local Traffic Safety Implementation
The project supports systematic traffic safety implementation at the local level, aligned with Sweden’s 2030 road safety targets. Municipalities play a key role as road managers, planners, and employers in creating safe infrastructure and protecting vulnerable road users.

Using a new audit tool the project studies how municipalities’ use of Trafiksäkerhetslyftet influences safety culture and implementation of effective measures. The results will provide insights into how local safety management can drive sustainable, people-centred transport systems. Read more here!

SAFER partner: Lund University

TWIN-SAFE
The TWINSAFE project strengthens research on safe infrastructure and vulnerable road users (VRUs) through collaboration between the University of Zagreb, Lund University, and Hasselt University. By linking infrastructure characteristics with driver behaviour, the project advances understanding of how design influences safety outcomes.

TWINSAFE builds research capacity at the University of Zagreb and promotes international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation in traffic safety. The project also fosters partnerships between academia, industry, and authorities to develop data-driven solutions for safer mobility. Key results and lessons learned will be presented at the event, contributing to safer and more inclusive road systems. Read more here!

SAFER partner: Lund University

Understanding Driver Behaviour on 2+1 Roads
This SAFER-funded project investigated driving behaviour on 2+1 rural roads – a key measure to reduce severe head-on collisions and advance Sweden’s Vision Zero goals. Using a novel vision-based method in which vehicles are re-identified at each camera location, detailed data on vehicle speeds, overtakings, and merging were collected along two-lane segment on the E18 .

The results include analysis of number of overtakings for different sub-segments, how many vehicles that a single vehicle overtakes, speeds of overtaking and overtaken vehicles, space mean speed, etc. Comparisons of overtaking and speed related metrics from data and simulation with common commercial traffic simulator show that the simulator cannot capture the overtaking behavior on 2+1 roads and that further development refinements required. The findings provide new insights into driver behaviour on 2+1 Roads , supporting safer and more inclusive rural road environments. Read more here!

SAFER partners: VTI & Viscando

Distracted pedestrians: Digital devices and safety at tram stops
The project explored how the use of mobile phones and headphones influences pedestrian behaviour and safety at tram stops. Using observations and questionnaires, the study examined common behaviours related to digital distraction and how these behaviours may contribute to potentially safety-critical situations. The results describe how prevalent digital distraction was, how it differed between pedestrian groups, and in which situations it was most likely to be associated with unsafe behaviour at tram stops. The findings contribute to the development of traffic environments that accommodate distracted pedestrians.

Very welcome!
 

ABOUT SAFER RESEARCH DAYS

SAFER Research Days aim to share insights, engage in meaningful discussions, present project results, identify next steps, strengthen networks, and gain new inspiration through thematic sessions, deep dives, guest speakers, and working group presentations.

Our Research Days are designed to achieve several important objectives:

• Disseminate knowledge: Share the valuable insights and discoveries generated from our diverse project portfolio.
• Engage in meaningful discussions: Participate in panel dialogues and workshops to delve into our partners’ findings, plan future steps, and emphasize practical applications in society as well as potential new projects.
• Identify next steps for projects: Explore potential next steps, paving the way for innovative proposals that drive progress and impact.
• Strengthen collaborative networks: Connect with peers, partners, and experts to exchange ideas and build stronger relationships for future cooperation.

In addition to these goals, our Research Days will feature:

• Thematic focus: Participate in sessions that focus on specific themes relevant to our research community.
• Deep dives and workshops: Engage in detailed explorations of specific topics to gain deeper understanding and insights.
• Guest speakers: Gain inspiration and knowledge from guest speakers who are leaders in their respective fields.
• Working Group presentations: Hear from various working groups about their ongoing projects and achievements.
• New inspiration: Discover new ideas and inspiration to drive your own research and projects forward.

We look forward to a productive and inspiring Research Day event together with you!

These mini-conferences are for SAFER partners only!