News

Today, Sweden’s new national Action Plan for Safe Road Traffic (2026–2030) is published, bringing together around 40 actors and more than 300 measures aimed at improving road safety. SAFER is proud to be one of the contributing organisations in this joint effort.

The Swedish Government has set ambitious interim targets to 2030: halving the number of road fatalities and reducing the number of seriously injured by 25 percent. Current analyses show that progress is not fast enough to meet these goals, highlighting the need for stronger and more coordinated action across sectors.

Since 2019, authorities and other stakeholders have collaborated under the leadership of the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) through joint action plans. This third edition outlines both key challenges and priority areas for the coming years and serves as an important platform for coordination and knowledge exchange.

The Action Plan focuses on six priority areas:

• Safe speeds
• Sober traffic
• Safe cycling
• Safe walking
• Suicide prevention
• Leadership for road safety

Within this framework, SAFER contributes through research, collaboration and knowledge sharing across several of these areas.

Examples of SAFER’s contributions

Safe speeds
Through the SAFER platform, research and collaboration projects are initiated and coordinated to combine vehicle technologies, infrastructure measures and behavioural approaches. The aim is to increase speed compliance and support the implementation of appropriate speed levels across the transport system.

Sober traffic
SAFER’s partners contribute by developing, testing and evaluating technologies and methods to detect and prevent alcohol and drug impairment in traffic, while also strengthening collaboration between key actors.

Safe cycling
Research within SAFER focuses on improving cyclist safety through helmet use, safer behaviour and better interaction with other road users. This includes technology transfer from the automotive sector and data-driven insights to support safer infrastructure and vehicle design.

Safe walking
Through initiatives such as the Safe Infrastructure working group, SAFER partners develop and evaluate solutions to improve pedestrian safety, including behavioural research and infrastructure design.

Leadership for road safety
SAFER contributes by developing and sharing knowledge, methods and tools that support organisations in integrating road safety into their sustainability work and value chains. The centre also acts as a neutral platform for collaboration across sectors.

In addition, SAFER:

• Disseminates research through publications, seminars, newsletters and social media
• Expands participation to foster multidisciplinary collaboration
• Supports the continued development of Trafiksäkerhetsdagarna as a national meeting arena
• Shares insights through the “Life and Traffic” podcast in collaboration with NTF Väst
• Advances knowledge on long-term injury consequences
• Strengthens data-driven decision-making through road safety data and analysis

Together with partners across Sweden, SAFER contributes to a strong and coordinated effort towards Vision Zero and a safer road transport system for all.