Safety & Security

The Safety and Security Working Group is dedicated to advancing the safety and security of urban mobility systems, with a particular emphasis on protecting vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, and those using public transport or shared micromobility. 

In light of the growing mobility issues in urban areas, the goal is to guarantee not just enhanced safety, but also a higher level of security for all users of streets and public transport networks.

In terms of safety, the Working Group advocates the implementation of key frameworks such as the New Paradigm for Safe City Streets and the Vision Zero approach, with the objective of supporting cities in their transition towards zero road fatalities and serious injury scenarios. It encourages capacity building among stakeholders and focuses on comprehensive road safety strategies such as speed management and traffic calming measures. The Group also seeks to integrate road safety goals with sustainable mobility principles, advancing projects like low-traffic neighbourhoods, safe cycling networks, and shared spaces that promote greener, safer urban environments. Data-driven approaches are central to the Group’s work, leveraging both quantitative data on crashes and near misses, and qualitative data for proactive safety assessments. Additionally, the Working Group addresses the challenges and opportunities posed by new vehicle types and technologies, including autonomous vehicles and e-bikes, ensuring that policy and legislation keep pace with these developments.

In terms of security, the Group addresses issues such as gender-based sexual violence in public transport and uses Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to improve transport infrastructure security. It also investigates the implications of the environmental crisis on urban transport systems, ensuring that public infrastructure remains resilient in the face of changing climatic conditions.

Topic priorities for 2024

Our current topic priorities for 2024 are the following:

1. Capacity building for Safe System and Vision Zero: Developing tailored support and training for cities aiming to adopt these frameworks to achieve safer streets for all users.
2. Speed management and traffic calming strategies: Implementing blanket speed limit reductions, traffic calming measures, and enforcement mechanisms to reallocate urban traffic speeds.
3. Integrating road safety with sustainable mobility: Advancing policies and projects that blend road safety with sustainable mobility goals, such as expanding low-traffic neighbourhoods and safe cycling networks.
4. Addressing communication challenges: Developing communication strategies to better convey the benefits of road safety measures like speed limits and low traffic zones, drawing from successful examples across Europe.
5. Data-driven approaches to new vehicle types and technologies: Investigating the impact of autonomous vehicles, e-bikes, and other emerging transport modes on road safety, and advocating for a multilevel legislative approach to manage these changes.