One Year On: IRF Joins FEDORA Consortium to Drive the Project's Next Phase
30 June - 1 July | Budapest, Hungary - International Road Federation (IRF) Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick participated in the 2nd General Assembly of the FEDORA Project in Budapest, Hungary, joining consortium partners to review progress and shape the next phase of the Horizon Europe initiative.
Held one year after the project's launch, the General Assembly provided an opportunity for partners to assess achievements across the project's work packages, exchange technical updates and coordinate upcoming pilot, deployment and impact activities.
Kirkpatrick presented updates on IRF's contributions to several key work packages, highlighting the organisation's role in ensuring that FEDORA's research delivers practical value for transport authorities, policymakers and the wider mobility community.
As part of 'Dissemination, Scale-up, Standardisation and Exploitation', IRF outlined progress in strengthening the project's communication, stakeholder engagement and knowledge transfer activities. The presentation highlighted achievements including growing visibility through the FEDORA website and social media channels, participation in conferences and industry events, scientific dissemination and preparations for future workshops and international cooperation activities.
Kirkpatrick also shared updates on IRF supporting international cooperation and transferability activities. Among the upcoming milestones is a dedicated FEDORA workshop at the IRF 2026 Annual Conference in Geneva, alongside engagement at other major mobility events to expand the project's reach and encourage wider uptake of its innovations.
In addition, IRF formally launched work on 'Lessons Learnt, Deployment Roadmap and Policy Recommendations'. The presentation introduced an initial regulatory analysis covering the project's six pilot countries -Austria, Spain (Basque Country), Cyprus, Denmark, Italy and Hungary - to identify common frameworks, national differences and best practices that will inform future policy recommendations.
As demonstrations progress, IRF will work with partners to evaluate the transferability of FEDORA's solutions and develop recommendations for policymakers at European, national and local levels.
IRF Lead Trainer Miguel-Angel Serrano Santos Appointed Chair of the Society of Road Safety Auditors
22–23 June | Manchester, United Kingdom - The International Road Federation (IRF) congratulates Eur Ing Miguel-Angel Serrano Santos, IRF Lead Trainer and internationally respected road safety expert, on his appointment as Chair of the Society of Road Safety Auditors (SoRSA), following the Society’s Annual General Meeting.
Miguel-Angel assumes the role as Libby Sands, one of SoRSA’s founding members and a longstanding advocate for professional excellence in road safety auditing, formally retired from the Society. The handover marks an important transition for the organisation as it continues to strengthen professional standards and advance safer road infrastructure across the United Kingdom and beyond.
The 2026 SoRSA Conference and Annual General Meeting brought together road safety practitioners, engineers, auditors and policymakers from across the industry. Participants gained the latest insights into industry standards for conducting road safety audits, explored emerging approaches to improving safety for vulnerable road users through interactive workshops, and contributed to professional discussions shaping the future of the discipline. The event also provided valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration and continuing professional development as part of SoRSA and CIHT membership requirements.
Miguel-Angel brings more than two decades of international experience in transport planning, road safety, and traffic engineering to his new position. A Chartered Civil Engineer and graduate of the University of Granada in Spain, he has built a distinguished career spanning Europe, the Middle East and Africa, leading initiatives that have improved road safety performance and strengthened institutional capacity.
As Lead Trainer for the IRF, he has delivered internationally recognised training programmes in road safety and traffic management, equipping engineers, government officials and transportation professionals with practical tools to improve road safety outcomes. His expertise has supported projects across multiple continents, helping organisations implement effective safety strategies and sustainable transportation solutions.
In addition to his work with IRF, Miguel-Angel serves as Vice-President of ASEVI, the Spanish Association of Road Safety Auditors, and as Senior Road Safety Specialist for the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), where he contributes to infrastructure development aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
His previous leadership positions include Road Safety Manager at Gloucestershire County Council in the United Kingdom, Technical Director with MSV Global in Qatar, Senior Road Safety Engineer for Ashghal, Qatar’s Public Works Authority, where he served as Road Safety Coordinator for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and Road Safety Expert for Saudi Arabia’s National Road Safety Center, supporting the development of national road safety auditing frameworks.
Miguel-Angel holds several distinguished professional qualifications, including Chartered Engineer (CEng MICE), Chartered Manager (CMgr MCMI), Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (FCIHT), Fellow of the Society of Road Safety Auditors (FSoRSA), and Fellow of the Spanish Association of Road Safety Auditors (FASEVI).
His appointment as Chair of SoRSA reflects both his professional expertise and longstanding commitment to advancing safer roads through evidence-based auditing, capacity building and international collaboration. As road safety challenges continue to evolve, his leadership is expected to support SoRSA’s mission of promoting excellence in road safety auditing while strengthening the profession’s contribution to reducing crashes and saving lives.
Rethinking Congestion: How Innovation Is Unlocking Hidden Capacity in Road Networks
18 June | Online - The International Road Federation (IRF) convened infrastructure leaders, technology experts and road operators on 18 June for the latest edition of its Circle of Excellence webinar series, exploring how innovation is helping road agencies optimise infrastructure performance and improve traffic flow without relying solely on costly network expansion.
Hosted by IRF Head of Advocacy and Outreach Alice Yiu, the webinar, “Optimising Infrastructure Performance and Traffic Flow through Innovation,” showcased award-winning projects and emerging solutions that are transforming how transport infrastructure is planned, managed and operated.
The webinar featured presentations from recipients of the IRF 2025 Awards, each demonstrating a distinct approach to improving mobility, safety and operational efficiency.
Reconnecting Communities Through Underground Infrastructure
Zhang Zhihang, Senior Engineer at the Beijing General Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd, presented the Beijing Eastern Sixth Ring Road Underground Reconstruction Project.
The project relocates a 16.3-kilometre section of the Sixth Ring Road underground, addressing long-standing challenges associated with noise, emissions and urban fragmentation. By moving traffic below ground, the project has enabled the creation of a 14-kilometre linear park above the tunnel, transforming former roadway space into a new public amenity.
Beyond its engineering achievements, the project demonstrates how transport infrastructure can support broader urban development goals by improving connectivity, enhancing environmental quality and creating valuable public space.
Active Traffic Management Delivers Capacity Gains
Sun Fuling, Dean of the Digital and Intelligent Transportation Research Institute at CIECC Huake Transportation Construction Technology Co., Ltd., presented the implementation of Active Traffic Management (ATM) on the Nansha Bridge, a critical transport link within the Greater Bay Area.
Faced with growing traffic volumes, congestion and safety challenges, the project introduced a closed-loop traffic management system integrating real-time monitoring, analysis, decision-making and operational feedback.
The results have been significant. Road capacity increased by 17.3 percent, average travel speeds improved by 52 percent, travel times were reduced by 34 percent and traffic accidents decreased by 25 percent. Importantly, these gains were achieved without major physical expansion of the bridge infrastructure, demonstrating the value of intelligent operations and coordinated management.
Sun emphasised that successful implementation depended not only on technology but also on building trust among investors, operators and public authorities through clear evidence of economic and social benefits.
Simplifying Incident Management Through System Integration
Representing Austrian technology company Evon GmbH, Daniel Seewald presented an integrated incident management solution developed for Austria’s motorway operator ASFiNAG.
The platform consolidates tunnel operations and open-road traffic management into a single system, integrating more than 170 tunnels, 2,200 kilometres of motorway and approximately 6.5 million data points.
By automating documentation, harmonising incident reporting and streamlining operator workflows, the solution reduced documentation time by 75 percent and cut reporting workloads by half. The system enables operators to focus more attention on incident response and traffic management while improving the quality and consistency of operational data.
The project highlighted how digital integration can improve not only traffic operations but also organisational efficiency within road agencies.
Emerging Technologies Expanding Operational Capabilities
The webinar also featured contributions from IRF members showcasing additional innovations in traffic management and incident detection.
Paolo Guarnieri of Movyon presented a dynamic traffic flow management system deployed on a heavily trafficked motorway corridor near Milan. Using artificial intelligence, radar, laser scanners and connected traffic management technologies, the system dynamically opens and closes emergency lanes to optimise capacity while maintaining safety. The solution helps reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and lower vehicle emissions.
Dimitrios Zavantis of egis introduced an AI-based incident detection platform implemented on Kazakhstan’s BAKAD ring road around Almaty. By leveraging existing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) infrastructure, the system identifies abnormal traffic patterns and potential incidents without requiring additional roadside equipment. The approach enables faster incident detection, reduces operational costs and improves network performance through better situational awareness.
Shared Lessons for the Road Sector
Despite addressing different infrastructure challenges and operating in diverse environments, the projects presented during the webinar shared several common themes.
Speakers consistently emphasised the importance of proactive management, data-driven decision-making and collaboration across agencies and stakeholders. Rather than focusing on infrastructure expansion alone, the projects demonstrated how innovation can unlock additional capacity, improve safety and enhance sustainability by optimising existing assets.
Circle of Excellence Webinar: Ensuring Safe, Inclusive and People-Centred Mobility for All
25 February | The International Road Federation’s Circle of Excellence webinar series continued last week with a session on Ensuring Safe, Inclusive and People-Centred Mobility for All, highlighting practical initiatives that improve safety and access while responding to real mobility needs.
The webinar brought together transport and mobility experts to explore how mobility systems can better serve people and communities. Speakers emphasised that roads are not neutral infrastructure; they shape access to education, healthcare, markets and employment.
Yet major gaps persist worldwide, particularly in rural areas and among vulnerable road users. The session demonstrated how aligning regulation, infrastructure design, enforcement and technology around human behaviour can significantly reduce road trauma and expand opportunity.
Connecting Communities Through Rural Mobility
Rudy Alejandro Herrera Mármol of Guatemala’s Secretaría Privada de la Presidencia presented the Routes to Development programme, a national initiative designed to reduce poverty by improving rural accessibility. The programme identifies communities most affected by poverty and prioritises investments that connect isolated communities to essential services and economic opportunities.
Rather than measuring success purely through engineering outputs, the initiative focuses on improved access which enables people to reach schools, healthcare facilities and markets more easily. Early implementation has shown that improved connectivity is already changing expectations in rural communities, with residents reporting greater confidence in education and economic prospects.
Abbie Noriega of FIKA (formerly Bridges to Prosperity) reinforced the importance of rural connectivity through evidence-based research. FIKA’s recent longitudinal randomised control trial in Rwanda examined the socioeconomic impact of rural transport infrastructure across nearly 300 villages. The study found that pedestrian bridges delivered an annual economic rate of return alongside measurable improvements in food security, income, school enrolment and wellbeing.
FIKA's efforts demonstrated that relatively small infrastructure investments can serve tens of thousands of people and generate substantial economic and social benefits. However, translating evidence into policy remains a challenge, as rural transport investments are often undervalued compared with urban infrastructure despite their high impact.
Expanding Inclusion in the Transport Workforce
Petra Buchner of Holcim presented the Women on Wheels programme, which addresses both workforce shortages and gender inequality by training women as professional truck drivers. Since its launch, the programme has expanded to 36 countries and has supported close to 1,000 female drivers.
Beyond its social objectives, the initiative has demonstrated measurable operational benefits. Data from multiple countries indicate that female drivers achieve strong safety performance, lower fuel consumption and improved operational efficiency. The programme also includes practical measures such as appropriate facilities, flexible working conditions and targeted training to ensure safety and retention.
Experience from the programme shows that one of the main barriers to workforce inclusion is not capability but awareness highlighting the importance of changing industry mindsets alongside implementing technical solutions.
Using Technology to Influence Safer Behaviour
Luo Huanzhong of Huawei presented an intelligent transport system deployment in Oman that uses artificial intelligence and connected infrastructure to improve road safety. The system combines computer vision, automated licence plate recognition and data analytics to detect unsafe driving behaviours such as distracted driving and seatbelt violations.
The project achieved high detection accuracy and enabled enforcement in areas with limited connectivity through solar-powered monitoring infrastructure.
The project demonstrated how digital technologies can support more consistent enforcement and provide authorities with real-time information to guide safety interventions.
Protecting Young Road Users
The session also featured contributions from IRF Members Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST) and YOURS – Youth for Road Safety. Emily Carr and Sana’ Khasawneh presented initiatives focused on protecting young road users through a combination of innovation and policy engagement.
Their work highlighted the disproportionate risks faced by youth on the road and emphasised the importance of integrating young people into road safety decision-making processes. Programmes presented during the session demonstrated how targeted advocacy, education and policy reforms can help create safer mobility environments for younger generations.
A People-Centred Approach to Road Safety
Across the different projects presented, a consistent message emerged: effective mobility systems must be designed around people rather than infrastructure alone.
Improving rural accessibility, strengthening workforce inclusion, applying intelligent technologies and protecting vulnerable users all contribute to safer and more equitable transport systems. When planning, regulation, enforcement and technology are aligned with real travel behaviour, road networks become more effective at reducing risk and supporting economic and social development.
The Circle of Excellence webinar illustrated that people-centred mobility is not a single intervention but a coordinated approach that connects infrastructure, policy and innovation to deliver lasting impact.
Circle of Excellence Series Launches with Its First Installment
4 November | Online, Global – The International Road Federation (IRF) launched the first instalment of its Circle of Excellence webinar series with a session focused on Building Green and Resilient Roads for a Changing Climate.
The session explored how innovation, policy, and practical experience can drive the transition toward greener and more climate-resilient road infrastructure.
With the road sector accounting for nearly 74% of global transport emissions, discussions highlighted the urgency of accelerating decarbonisation through clean technologies, renewable energy integration, and data-driven infrastructure management. Speakers also noted that while commitments to net zero are growing, emissions continue to rise—reaching 6.2 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2023.
The discussion was moderated by IRF Head of Outreach and Advocacy, Alice Yiu and featured speakers:
- Matthew Bond from the National Transport Research Organisation - NTRO to discuss the impact of bushfire on infrastructure and a framework to incorporate bushfire resilience in road design project
- Fabrice Breton from Olympia Odos S.A. to discuss the Solar Energy on the Motorway: On the way to Zero Emissions project
- Suresh Gurumurthy from INTERISE to discuss the Devihalli Hassan Tollway Pvt Ltd– “Commitment & Importance to Environmental Stewardship” project
- Subu Kamal from Transport Research Laboratory – TRL to discuss the Climate Informed Digital Road Asset Management System (iROADS) for Kerala PWD project
- Sun Zhaoyun from Chang’an University to discuss the Spatiotemporal Big Data-Drive Integrated Highway Asset Management Technology & Application project
Experts emphasised that true resilience goes beyond physical durability which demands smarter systems, predictive tools and sustainable operational models that enable rapid recovery and long-term reliability.
Following the main presentations, IRF members were invited to deliver short elevator pitches highlighting their own contributions to green and resilient road development, featuring:
- Ezel Sari from Hatko, who put a spotlight on the Recycled Rubber Noise Barriers
- Yuma Maeda from Fliegl BauKom, who discussed Innovative transport technologies to improve pavement lifetime
- Renaud de Montaignac from Oris, who shared updates on the a climate-ready road sector with AI and data
Framed around the upcoming COP30 in Belém, Brazil and the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035), the webinar reinforced a global call to integrate resilience into transport planning and infrastructure design.
Participants reaffirmed the need for green, safe, and resilient roads that enable climate-smart mobility and protect communities in an era of increasing environmental change.
The full recording of the session is available exclusively to IRF members.
For questions and details, contact membership@irfofficial.org
