Strengthening Road Safety Collaboration Through EvoRoads Partnership
7 July | Riga, Latvia - IRF Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick joined project partners in Riga for the EvoRoads General Assembly, contributing to discussions aimed at advancing innovative, data-driven solutions for safer road infrastructure across Europe.
Hosted by the Riga City Council, the General Assembly brought together consortium partners to review project progress, exchange expertise and coordinate the next phases of implementation. The meeting provided an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration and accelerate efforts toward achieving the European Union's Vision Zero goal of eliminating road deaths and serious injuries.
During the General Assembly, Kirkpatrick delivered a presentation on the development of the EvoRoads Multiplier Group, a network of external experts from Europe and beyond who will support the project's activities through knowledge sharing, validation of outputs and stakeholder engagement.
The Multiplier Group is designed to bring together specialists in road infrastructure management, digital ecosystems, road safety performance indicators and policy development to ensure the project's results are relevant, practical and aligned with international best practices.
Funded by the European Union, EvoRoads is developing a holistic framework of innovative models, tools, and services to enable the evolution of road safety assessment systems through data-driven decision-making. The project aims to facilitate dynamic monitoring of cyber-physical transport infrastructure while promoting proactive warnings for safety risks in increasingly complex transport environments.
At the core of the project is the development of a digital connectivity platform where transport infrastructure assets are digitalised and connected to safety assessment services.
Through advanced AI-driven analytics, EvoRoads integrates infrastructure monitoring data across multiple geospatial levels, enabling proactive risk detection and supporting more effective maintenance and safety management for road operators.
EvoRoads' solutions are being tested and validated through four Living Labs in Spain, Italy, Latvia and Romania, addressing the needs of different road users in both urban and rural environments. Insights gathered through these demonstrations will help ensure that the project's innovations can be effectively replicated and scaled across Europe.
During the Assembly, partners highlighted the productive pilot discussions and the strong collaborative spirit that continues to drive the project forward. Significant progress was made in aligning data-driven strategies to improve road safety and better protect vulnerable road users, providing valuable momentum for the next stages of implementation.
Accelerating European Urban Mobility Collaboration at Mobilities for EU General Assembly
21 May | Dresden, Germany - The International Road Federation (IRF) reinforced its commitment to advancing sustainable and connected urban transport solutions through its active participation in the Mobilities for EU General Assembly represented by IRF Project Managers Ilona Cieslik and Iona Kirkpatrick.
Bringing together project partners to exchange progress and showcase emerging innovations, the General Assembly provided an important platform for collaboration toward climate-neutral urban mobility systems across Europe.
Representing the IRF on site, Ilona Cieslik joined partners for a visit to the impressive Gläserne Manufaktur of Volkswagen Group, where participants explored technologies helping shape the future of sustainable transport. Following a welcome address by the Mayor of Dresden, attendees learned more about Volkswagen’s innovative charging robot, highlighting how automation and electrification are transforming urban mobility systems and supporting smarter transport operations.
The programme continued at Ostragehege, where Dresden, one of the project’s Lead Cities, showcased a series of pilot projects and live demonstrations designed to accelerate the transition to more connected and sustainable transport ecosystems. Demonstrations included bidirectional charging solutions, operating service robots and Dresden’s advanced 5G infrastructure, all illustrating how emerging technologies are being integrated into real-world mobility systems.
As part of IRF’s contribution to the General Assembly, Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick delivered a presentation on project updates related to Mobilities for EU, with a particular focus on achievements under the project’s clustering activities between 2024 and mid-2026.
The presentation highlighted the creation of a continuously updated database of clustering project profiles and strengthening coordination through shared contacts and project information. Significant progress has also been made in fostering collaboration with CIVITAS New Mobility Services projects, including metaCCAZE, SUM, and GEMINI.
Iona also shared updates on future collaboration pathways, including advancing agreements with CIVITAS and NetZeroCities through CARTIF, while maintaining continuous engagement with key European mobility stakeholders through events, publications and knowledge exchange activities.
The Mobilities for EU project has maintained strong visibility across major international platforms, including the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), CIVITAS Forum, ITS European Congress, EUCAD Symposium and the IRF 2026 Annual Conference, strengthening opportunities for replication and cross-sector collaboration.
As a key project partner, IRF continues to support the broader objectives of MOBILITIES FOR EU, which aims to demonstrate that innovative passenger mobility and freight transport concepts, which designed through participative and user-centred principles, can offer cost-effective and feasible pathways toward climate neutrality.
Through electrification, automation, and connectivity, the project seeks to help cities accelerate emissions reductions and advance sustainable urban transport systems by 2030.
Morocco: Advancing Safer and More Inclusive Road Design in North and West Africa
19 - 20 May 2026 | Rabat, Morocco - A productive week in Rabat, Morocco has concluded as part of the capacity building activities under the Safe and Inclusive Road Design in North and West Africa project. The International Road Federation (IRF) was represented by Project Manager Paul Karst.
Led by Ahmed Ksentini, the training brought together road safety practitioners and technical experts to strengthen regional capacity on Safe System-based road design, the protection of vulnerable road users, and practical tools that support safer infrastructure outcomes.
The Rabat session builds on earlier trainings delivered in Dakar, Senegal and Nouakchott, Mauritania, reinforcing a regional effort to improve road safety through stronger technical expertise and knowledge exchange. Participants explored approaches to embedding safer and more inclusive road design principles into transport planning, with particular attention to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, older persons and other vulnerable road users.
Funded by the UN Road Safety Fund and implemented by the International Road Federation and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, the Safe and Inclusive Road Design in North and West Africa project is being delivered in partnership with the Government of Mauritania, Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency and Senegal’s National Agency for Road Safety. The initiative aims to improve road safety in Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal by modernising outdated road design standards and strengthening protections for vulnerable road users.
Building on earlier initiatives, including road safety programmes in Tanzania and the EU-supported SaferAfrica project, the effort promotes regional collaboration to harmonise safety approaches across countries influenced by French road design standards, particularly along strategic corridors such as the Trans-African Highways.
Alongside technical training for engineers, policymakers and road safety auditors, the project seeks to establish a sustainable framework for continuously updating standards, helping ensure safer and more inclusive infrastructure remains a long-term priority across North and West Africa.
Through continued technical cooperation and regional knowledge exchange, IRF continues to support national stakeholders in advancing safer, more resilient and inclusive road networks across the region.
IRF Joins iEXODDUS Partners at General Assembly in San Sebastián
7 May | San Senastián, Spain - The International Road Federation (IRF) continued advancing its work on connected and automated mobility through participation in the 3rd General Assembly of the iEXODDUS EU Project. Representing IRF, Head of Data, Programmes and Knowledge, Julia Funk joined project partners and stakeholders at a key stage in the initiative’s development as the project enters its second year.
Hosted by Ceit Research Center, the General Assembly brought together the iEXODDUS consortium for two days of technical discussions, collaboration and strategic alignment. Following a productive first day, partners continued reviewing progress across Work Packages, with discussions centred on technical integration, implementation priorities and next steps for the project.
The Assembly highlighted significant technical progress achieved across the consortium, spanning technical requirements, dedicated traffic datasets, resilient Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving (AD) solutions, infrastructure digital twins, validation planning and standardisation activities. As iEXODDUS moves further into its second year, the focus is increasingly shifting toward integrating these technologies into future ADAS and automated driving systems, with particular attention to robustness in challenging real-world conditions and changing Operational Design Domains (ODDs).
At the core of iEXODDUS is a response to one of automated mobility’s most persistent barriers: the limitations of ODDs. Current automated systems remain constrained by sensor performance, behavioural prediction gaps and inconsistent reliability in complex environments. These limitations continue to restrict wider deployment and large-scale adoption.
To address these constraints, iEXODDUS is advancing infrastructure-enabled intelligence designed to extend ODD frameworks and strengthen automated driving systems. This includes improvements in perception algorithms and the development of digital twin technologies that provide real-time contextual awareness of road environments. The objective is to enable automated vehicles to operate more safely and effectively across a broader range of conditions.
The initiative brings together 14 partners, including Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH and Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, alongside IRF in a collaborative effort to accelerate infrastructure-supported automation solutions through aligned research, policy and operational expertise.
IRF’s contribution to the project has also been reflected in recent international engagement. At the ITS European Congress 2026, Iona Kirkpatrick presented findings from iEXODDUS, highlighting how intelligent infrastructure, including roadside sensing systems, digital twins and real-time data services, can strengthen the operational capabilities of automated vehicles and address key reliability and safety gaps.
The General Assembly also provided an opportunity for partners to align ahead of the upcoming European Union review meeting in July, where the consortium will present recent technical achievements and collaborative progress to the European Commission and project stakeholders.
A sincere thank you to Ceit Research Center for hosting the meeting in San Sebastián and for the insightful laboratory tour, which gave consortium partners the opportunity to explore ongoing research activities and innovation facilities firsthand.
IRF Talks Infrastructure-Supported Automation at ITS European Congress 2026
27 - 29 April 2026 | Türkiye, Instanbul - The International Road Federation (IRF) is actively contributing to the conversation on the future of connected and automated mobility at the ITS European Congress 2026, where transport experts, policymakers and technology leaders are meeting to advance innovation in intelligent transport systems.
Representing IRF at the congress, Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick is participating in a series of technical sessions focused on the infrastructure requirements needed to support safer and more reliable automated mobility systems.
As part of IRF’s participation, Iona delivered a presentation during the Special Interest Session on Infrastructure-supported Automated Mobility, where she shared insights from iEXODDUS, an IRF-supported European project working to improve the interaction between infrastructure and automated vehicles. The presentation highlighted how intelligent infrastructure, which includes roadside sensors, digital twins and real-time contextual data, that can help extend the operational capabilities of automated vehicles, improving safety, efficiency and resilience across transport networks.
In addition to presenting, Iona also joined the panel discussion on “Next-generation roadside sensing ecosystems for autonomous-ready infrastructure", which explored how infrastructure systems can provide the real-time awareness needed for automated vehicles to safely navigate increasingly complex environments.
She is also joining a panel titled “From infrastructure intelligence to safer automation: ODD extension, edge-AI stacks, standardised road condition services and multimodal orchestration”, where experts examined the technologies and collaborative frameworks required to support automated mobility at scale. These discussions addressed the importance of reliable roadside intelligence, interoperable standards and coordinated infrastructure services in enabling the next generation of connected transport.
IRF’s presence in these discussions reflects its continued commitment to shaping practical, scalable solutions for automated mobility, bringing together infrastructure operators, researchers and industry stakeholders to address the challenges of deployment and standardisation.
A central part of this work is iEXODDUS, a European initiative focused on extending the Operational Design Domains (ODDs) of connected and automated vehicles through infrastructure support. By integrating real-time road data, digital infrastructure services and harmonised communication standards, the project aims to create safer and more adaptive mobility systems while helping road authorities prepare for the demands of automation.
Through its participation at ITS European Congress 2026, IRF is reinforcing the role of infrastructure as a critical enabler of automated mobility and ensuring that the voice of road operators remains central in the development of future transport systems.
iEXODDUS Showcases the Role of Connected Infrastructure in Road Safety at Intertraffic Amsterdam
On 11 March 2026, the iEXODDUS project was presented at Intertraffic Amsterdam during the session “Connected Infrastructure and Vehicles: The Next Frontier in Road Safety”, held at the Road Safety Stage. The session brought together experts from European research initiatives and industry to discuss how connected vehicles and smart infrastructure are reshaping road safety and enabling more responsive transportation systems.
Moderated by Brendan Halleman, Senior Advisor at the International Road Federation (IRF), the session featured contributions from several initiatives working on connected and cooperative mobility, including EvoRoads, iEXODDUS, PoDIUM, and Miovision. Speakers explored real-world applications of connected infrastructure, the challenges associated with implementation, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing safer mobility systems.
Representing the project, Iona Kirkpatrick, EU Project Manager at the International Road Federation, presented the iEXODDUS project and its work on extending the Operational Design Domains (ODDs) of automated vehicles. The presentation explored how connected infrastructure and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication can support automated vehicles in navigating complex environments where automation still faces limitations in GNSS-denied areas such as tunnels, road works, or incident zones. By improving localisation, infrastructure sensors, and connectivity, iEXODDUS aims to reduce the need for driver takeovers and enable safer automated driving under challenging road conditions.
Are the safety benefits of connected mobility reaching all road users?
During the panel discussion, Iona Kirkpatrick highlighted the growing evidence that connected infrastructure and V2X systems can contribute to improved road safety outcomes, particularly by supporting the extension of Operational Design Domains and reducing the need for handovers between automated systems and human drivers in complex environments. At the same time, she noted that these benefits are currently largely concentrated in highly automated vehicles available in specific market segments, meaning they are not yet evenly distributed across all road users.
Looking ahead, she emphasised the importance of ensuring that the technologies being developed — including those explored in iEXODDUS — are also implemented, in the future, in public transport vehicles, helping to ensure broader sections of society benefit from the safety improvements evidenced by connected mobility.
Kyrgyz Republic approves new Safe and Inclusive Road Design Guidance
Article originally published by the Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST)
In February 2026, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic formally approved the use of our new Road Safety Design Guidance through Ministerial Order No. 43.
The guidance was developed by Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST), International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), the International Road Federation (IRF) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) as part of a UN Road Safety Fund project supporting safe and inclusive road design across Central Asia.
In Kyrgyzstan, as in much of the region, the rapid expansion of international transport corridors has often outpaced the implementation of modern road safety design. Traditional engineering approaches have tended to prioritise vehicle movement, frequently overlooking the needs of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and communities living alongside high-speed roads.
The Safe and Inclusive Road Design in Central Asia project aimed to address this gap by providing engineers and infrastructure planners with practical tools to design roads that are safer for all users.
Developed by international road safety expert Paul Disney and finalised in June 2025, the guidance offers a practical framework for reducing road injuries through:
- Safe System principles, aligning road infrastructure with the local technical regulations such as GOST-SNiP standards.
- Inclusive design approaches, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable road users during the construction and rehabilitation of international roads.
- Standardised safety practices, promoting consistent approaches across the design, construction and operation of highways.
Following the completion of the project, EASST’s national partner, Public Association ‘Road Safety’, supported the document through a comprehensive review process with specialists from the Ministry and the Design and Survey Institute.
Speaking at the closing event of the project in June 2025, Ulanbek Sultanov of the Ministry of Transport and Communications said:
“The recommendations don't just give general safety criteria, but provide detailed examples of how to solve specific issues. This makes the work much easier for designers when making decisions. The recommendations are very well-prepared… We will definitely recommend these materials to other design companies in Kyrgyzstan and to universities that train our future personnel."
Despite administrative changes and leadership transitions within the Ministry, ‘Road Safety’ maintained progress through technical seminars and direct consultations. This sustained engagement ensured the guidance was recognised not simply as another report, but as a practical solution supporting Kyrgyzstan’s national road safety priorities. The Ministry’s Department of Control and Supervision has now been tasked with ensuring that all relevant structural divisions are trained in the new requirements.
By adopting these guidelines as official policy, the Kyrgyz Republic is setting an important precedent for the region, demonstrating how technical expertise, partnership and political commitment can help transform road design and ultimately save lives.
ReSKILLING Contributes to the EU-Japan Dialogue on Road Transport Automation
On 20 january, 2026, the ReSKILLING Project contributed to a high-level EU–Japan bilateral meeting on automation in road transport.
Organised within the framework of the CCAMbassdor project, the meeting brought together several CCAM-oriented initiatives to strengthen dialogue and collaboration between the European Commission and Japan, with the participation of the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM) from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).
The discussion offered a valuable exchange of perspectives:
- Andrea De Candido (DG RTD) presented the EU’s strategy for automated driving, with a strong focus on large-scale deployment.
- Daiken Suzuki (NILIM–MLIT) shared Japan’s approach to advanced automated driving, including the Mobility Roadmap 2025 and efforts to address driver shortages.
- The conversation then moved to more technical topics, including the state of the art of Level 4 automated vehicles, V2I systems, and dedicated driving spaces.
- Finally, the ReSKILLING Coordinator Matina Loukea, supported by Agostina Massarini (IRF), presented the project - together with other showcased initiatives such as CCAM--ERAS and Hi-Drive.
These presentations actively contributed to discussions on the deployment and social acceptance of automated driving, underlining the importance of skills, workforce transition, and societal readiness alongside technological innovation.
Photo credit: IRF
How should inclusive CCAM be designed and implemented? Share your views in the CulturalRoad survey
The CulturalRoad Project is working on new methodologies that integrate cultural and geographical diversity into Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) deployment plans, with the aim of ensuring that CCAM improves mobility for everyone. In addition to improving the efficiency and safety of CCAM services, the project also strives for greater inclusivity, aiming to eliminate transport poverty and address the diverse needs of different groups.
To support this work, CulturalRoad is launching a survey to gather perspectives and better understand users’ priorities. The questionnaire covers physical limitations, digital accessibility, safety measures, and other ethical considerations related to mobility in general, and CCAM in particular. No prior knowledge is required to participate – everyone’s experience is valuable.
The survey takes from 5 to 30 minutes to answer the survey, depending on how many dimensions you want to assess. Any contribution will be very valuable, and participation is possible either anonymously or by name. Your responses will directly guide CulturalRoad’s work within its Inclusivity pillar.
Take part in our survey and help shape more inclusive mobility solutions!
Photo credit: CulturalRoad
RESKILLING’s 1st Annual Virtual Stakeholder Event Charts a Path from Automation to Workforce Readiness in Europe’s Transport Future
On 16 December 2025, the RESKILLING project successfully hosted its first Annual Virtual Stakeholder Event under the theme “From Automation to Employment: Skills for Europe’s Transport Future”, bringing together experts, practitioners and policy influencers from across the transport ecosystem for an engaging online dialogue on the future of work in the era of Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM).
The event offered a comprehensive overview of the RESKILLING initiative—funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme—and highlighted its mission to support Europe’s workforce and transport sector through the profound transformations brought by automation. Participants heard about the project’s objectives, early findings from research and workshops, and the opportunities for collaboration that lie ahead.
Stakeholders from industry, policy, research, training providers, labour organisations and international bodies explored key themes shaping the sector: how CCAM is redefining jobs and skills, where training and reskilling gaps exist, and what coordinated approaches can best prepare workers for future roles.
Highlights from the discussions included:
- A structured classification of CCAM-related job families and skills that will shape future workforce planning.
- A look into ReSKILLING's skills matrix, linking CCAM job families to relevant skills, alongside employment forecasting by sector and an analysis of future scenarios and working conditions.
- Perspectives from labour unions and policy experts from the WeTransform Project, on adapting to CCAM-induced changes in employment.
- Emerging training modules for enhanced CCAM-specific skills, including insights on reskilling and upskilling needs.
- Voices from international partners, broadening the dialogue on inclusive and future-oriented workforce strategies.
In addition to its rich content sessions, the event featured live polling and breakout discussions, enabling participants to interact meaningfully with speakers and each other, and ensure that stakeholder feedback feeds directly into ongoing RESKILLING activities.
A core outcome of the meeting was the introduction of the RESKILLING Stakeholder Community, a platform designed to foster continuous exchange, co-creation and collaborative action long after the event. Stakeholders are now invited to build on this momentum and help shape the project’s next milestones as Europe navigates the transition to a resilient, skilled and future-ready transport workforce.
A warm thank you to all participants and speakers whose contributions enriched the discussions and underscored the shared commitment to ensuring that automation and innovation go hand-in-hand with opportunity, inclusion and sustainable employment.
Photo credit: ReSKILLING
Photo credit: ReSKILLING
