Project

Full title: SAFER Cities: Collaboration between research and societal stakeholders for increased traffic safety as part of the sustainable transformation of cities and transport systems

SAFER Cities is a proposed initiative to strengthen collaboration between research institutions and local and regional authorities to advance traffic safety as a key component of the sustainable transformation of urban transport systems. Municipalities and regions play a central role in shaping safer and more sustainable environments, yet their responsibilities in areas such as public procurement, occupational road safety, and strategic planning require further support and integration.  

This pre-study aims to explore the potential for a long-term collaboration platform – SAFER Cities – to meet the identified needs of local and regional stakeholders. The study will identify concrete challenges and priorities, map existing networks and research interfaces, and propose a sustainable collaboration and funding model. By facilitating evidence-based risk management, supporting behavioural change, and promoting technological solutions, the initiative seeks to enable municipalities and regions to make more informed decisions and implement effective safety actions.  

Ultimately, SAFER Cities aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, helping to integrate traffic safety into broader sustainability goals – including climate action, air quality, social equity, and public health – and deliver tangible improvements for all road users.

Traffic safety benefit: SAFER Cities links researchers with municipal and regional actors to accelerate the creation of sustainable, safe transport systems. The platform drives evidence-based decisions and proven safety solutions, embedding road safety within wider goals on climate, air quality and social equity, and delivering tangible improvements for every road user.
 

Key words: societal stakeholder, cities, municipalities, sustainability