30 March 2019 | Cologne, Germany

On 28^th March, the ERF  organised a 2 hour workshop during the 2019 edition of DeuSAT (Conference and exhibition event on road equipment) in Cologne following an invitation by the IVSt (German Association of Road Equipment). 

This was the first time that IVSt and ERF cooperated for the organisation of such a workshop during the DeuSAT event and the topic of the WS was: ‘Which opportunities the 3^rd Mobility Package brings us?’

The recent developments offered by the 3^rd European Mobility package, with the revision of the Road Infrastructure Safety Management Directive and the General Safety Regulation will definitely have an impact on the road industry and the purpose of the session was to inform the representatives of the German road industry about the opportunities for the road sector.

Mr. Troppmann (European Commission DG MOVE) presented a general overview of the Mobility package, as well as some specific aspects of the RISM Directive, the General Safety Regulation (GSR) for cars and the EU Road Safety Policy Framework for 2021-2030.

ERF Director General, Christophe Nicodème, presented the point of view of the industry and the last part of the session consisted on presentations on road markings and signs, delivered by Harald Mosböck (member of the Board of ERF) and Rik Nuyttens (ERF President).

CN explained that the ERF considered the extension of the scope of the RISM Directive, as well as the proposed minimum performance requirements for road markings and signs to be a unique opportunity for the road industry to promote quality and performance of the European roads.

He concluded his presentation saying: “As the only European organisation representing the whole sector of the road infrastructure, the ERF is there to promote the quality and performance of road equipment and is also there to support the German road industry”.

12 March 2019 | Valletta, Malta 

On 28^th February, the ERF held in the Intercontinental Hotel in Malta a Workshop on Road Safety, under the auspices of Infrastructure Malta, Malta Road Safety Council and Transport Malta.

Malta is planning to realise a massive investment in the coming seven years to enhance the quality of its road network and achieve major improvement of the safety level on its roads. The Workshop served as a platform for discussions and sharing of best practices between the public authorities and ERF members.  The one day event was organised following an invitation made by Infrastructure Malta.

This workshop, attended by 20 Maltese road safety engineers and specialists, covered topics related to road safety, i.e. the European Road Infrastructure Policy, Road markings, Traffic Signs, Road Maintenance and Mobility and Road Restraint Systems and Road Side Safety. The ERF was given the opportunity to share its expertise and knowledge which stem from the work done in dedicated Working Groups and EU funded projects.

“This Workshop is the starting point of a future closer cooperation between the ERF and Infrastructure Malta” stated Christophe Nicodème, Director General of ERF. “We are pleased that road authorities are taking into consideration the importance of Road Safety, and we are looking forward to seeing more and more states taking similar initiatives.”

18 October 2018 | Lisbon, Portugal

The ERF, in cooperation with the International Road Federation, Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil and the Transport Research Board, organised the 6th European edition of the AFB 20 (2) Roadside Safety Committee on International Research Activities on the 18th October. Co-chaired by Michael Dreznes and Francesca La Torre, the event gathered around 100 participants from industry, certification bodies, academia and road authorities.

The first session of the event was dedicated to European standards linked to roadside safety. EN1317 and EN12767 were presented in detail, including identification, classification and evaluation of vehicle restraint systems.

The second session dealt with in-service performance evaluation & road safety inspection. Case studies from Tuscany and Ireland were presented, followed by interesting debates.

The third and fourth sessions focused on industry developments in roadside safety for both safety barriers and passive safety support structures. The importance of simulations to develop roadside safety solutions and the importance of crashworthiness in Work Zones were highlighted, amongst others.

26 September 2018 | Brussels, Belgium

The European Union Road Federation (ERF) and the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) organised a breakfast event “‘Road Infrastructure Safety – The Motorcyclists’ Vision”. The event took place at the European Parliament and was hosted by MEP Wim van de Camp.

In the coming months, road safety will be at the EU agenda with the revision of the Road Infrastructure Safety Directive and the preparation of the coming Road Safety Action Programme 2020-2030. In this sense, the ERF and FEMA have launched a joint position paper ‘Improving infrastructure safety for powered two-wheelers’ that calls for specific measures focused on motorcycle protection.

Only in 2017 power two-wheelers fatalities (motorcycles and mopeds) counted for 17% of the total road victims, while accounting only for 1,8%  of the total traffic flow. Both ERF and FEMA strongly believe that road safety for motorcyclists can be improved by looking at the design of road infrastructure.

In his introduction, Mr Van de Camp referred to the social cost of accidents that authorities need to take into consideration, as well as how responsibility is shared among involved parties in case of an accident.

Afterwards, Dolf Willigers, FEMA General Secretary, gave a presentation regarding the challenges that motorcyclists’ face in terms of infrastructure. More specifically, Mr Willigers pointed out that lack of proper design and poor maintenance can have fatal consequences for vulnerable road users, motorcyclists included.

Following the motorcyclist’s perspective, the ERF President, Rik Nuyttens, addressed  a presentation on how the infrastructure can be adapted to better accommodate the needs of the above mentioned road user groups by improving signs, markings, bariers and pavements.

The last part of the event was dedicated to an exchange of views between the participants. The main point made during this discussion was that although maintenance is important, this is mostly funded by regional and national authorities, therefore it is important that these authorities are constantly informed about the needs of road users, especially the vulnerable ones. Another important element, which participants agreed on, was that harmonised road equipment is extremely important when it comes to preventing road accidents and thus preventing road fatalities.

ERF and FEMA will continue the awareness campaign during the coming months presenting the document in specialised fora, conferences and to other stakeholders involved in road safety.

24 July 2018 | Lisbon, Portugal

The AFB20(2) Subcommittee will be conducting its 6th European Meeting on Thursday October 18 in Lisbon, Portugal.

In cooperation with the International Road Federation, Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (LNEC) and the Transport Research Board, the ERF is pleased to announce the 2018 edition of the AFB20 (2) Roadside Safety Design Subcommittee on International Research Activities. The one-day meeting will be a unique opportunity for road safety experts around the globe to gather and exchange information concerning the latest trends and developments in the area of passive safety and road safety design.

► Location: Lisbon, Portugal

► Deadline for abstracts: 18 August 2018 

Organised by:

12 June 2018 | Brussels, Belgium

The European Union Road Federation (ERF) and the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) have published a joint position paper, called ‘Improving infrastructure safety for powered two-wheelers’.

Only in 2017 power two-wheelers fatalities (motorcycles and mopeds) counted for 17% of the total road victims, while accounting only for 1,8%  of the total traffic flow. Both ERF and FEMA strongly believe that road safety for motorcyclists can be improved by looking at the design of road infrastructure.

Basic and low-cost preventive measures such as the installation of motorcycle protection systems on guardrails, maintaining the skid resistance of pavement markings and ensuring that roads surfaces are properly maintained can make an important contribution to the safety of riders and help achieve better progress towards reaching the EU’s goal of reducing fatalities by 50 percent by 2020 in line with the objective set out in the Road Safety Action Program 2011-2020.

ERF and FEMA encourage the European Commission to include specific measures focussed on motorcycle protection infrastructure for the coming road safety framework 2020-2030. Both organisations are open to cooperate by sharing expertise and technical knowledge with policymakers which can be transformed in positive measures to develop a safer mobility in Europe.

ERF:

Established in 1998, the European Union Road Federation (ERF) is non-profit association which defends the role of roads as a sine que non for Europe’s socio-economic prosperity. With more than 60 members, it acts as a true platform for dialogue and research on issues related to safe mobility.

Contact person: Christophe Nicodème, ERF Director General

www.erf.be 

FEMA:

The Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) represents European motorcyclists and aims to promote, protect and preserve motorcycling. Its mission is to promote riders’ interests and defend riders’ rights throughout Europe and globally

Contact person: Dolf Willigers, FEMA General Secretary

www.fema-online.eu

27 March 2018 | Sofia, Bulgaria

Around 350 stakeholders gathered in Sofia (Bulgaria) to participate in the “International Road Safety & Innovation Forum – Leveraging new technologies and good practices from Europe and beyond”.

The Forum was co-organised by the Bulgarian Branch Association Road Safety, ERF and IRF under the patronage the Ministry of Regional Development & Public Works (MRRB), the Road Infrastructure Agency (API) and the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU.

The key objective for the Forum is to understand how new technologies in the field of asset management and the vehicle side can allow for important road safety gains and help promote a constructive framework for infrastructure adaptation

Panelists presented new and innovative solutions like road markings optimized for ADAS-enabled vehicles and as well latest innovations in passive safety measures designed to protect vulnerable road users. The Forum served to show the infrastructure stakeholders commitment with authorities tp reach EU targets on road safety both to reduce fatalities and number of injuries.

During the morning sessions two main issues were addressed: the road financing and how better data could lead to an improvement in road safety. In the afternoon sessions new technologies for safer and smart cities and proven solutions for the improvement of road safety were presented.

15 December 2017 | Brussels, Belgium

European countries are at an important milestone in the achievement of their road traffic injury reduction targets. Since 2015, the gap between the best and worst-performing EU member states has continued to widen, suggesting that cost-effective measures, enabled by actionable data and technological progress, need to be investigated.

“Road Safety & Innovation – Leveraging new technologies and good practices from Europe and beyond” is an international forum for road safety & technology stakeholders held under the patronage the Ministry of Regional Development & Public Works (MRRB), the Road Infrastructure Agency (API) and the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Forum is an international experience-sharing platform that is also fully aligned with ongoing policy initiatives by the European Commission in the fields of road safety and the digital economy. Moreover, as an emerging technological hub with a unique ecosystem of SMEs, Bulgaria offers an ideal setting for forward-looking discussions between industry and governments on innovative pathways to safer road mobility.

The key objective for the Forum is to shed light on the exponential growth in analytical tools and technological enablers, which when supported by an innovation-friendly regulatory and public procurement environment, can enable the delivery of more effective road safety programs.

The Forum will:

• Highlight the potential of analytical tools (risk diagnosis, asset management, etc.) as a means to prioritize safety investments
• Provide a thorough overview of the opportunities and mechanisms to successfully deploy innovative safer road mobility programs
• Present how tomorrow’s streets, vehicles and users will seamlessly connect with one another to offer a safer road environment
• Commit stakeholders to a shared agenda of road safety innovation through public-private sector cooperation.

_____________________

Location: Sofia, Bulgaria

Date: 27 March 2017

_____________________

Agenda

8:30am

9:00am

9:45am

11:00am

12:30pm

1:30pm

3:00pm

3:30pm

5:00pm

17 July 2017 | Brussels, Belgium

In cooperation with the International Road Federation and the Transport Research Board, the ERF is pleased to announce the 2017 edition of the AFB20 (2) Roadside Safety Design Subcommittee on International Research Activities.

Following the evaluation of abstacts by the technical committee, the conference organisers are pleased to announce the release of the agenda which contains 15 presentations on road side safety, both from a research and a development/ implementation perspective. The presentations will be complemented by a roundtable discussion which will look into future challenges for roadside safety.

Location: Brussels, Belgium
Date: 21 September 2017

14 March 2017 | Brussels, Belgium

NEW DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS: 20 June 2017

In cooperation with the International Road Federation and the Transport Reseach Board, the ERF is pleased to announce the 2017 edition of the AFB20 (2) Roadside Safety Design Subcommittee on International Research Activities.

Following up on previous success, the ERF is announcing a Call for Abstracts for the next European meeting which will take place on 21 September 2017 in Brussels.

The one-day meeting will be a unique opportunity for road safety experts around the globe to gather and exchange information concerning the latest trends and developments in the area of passive safety and road safety design.

Abstracts Guidelines: 

• Maximum 2 pages
• Technical relevance and interest are the key point for selection – NO commercial paper or advertisingDeadline for submission of the abstracts:
  20 June 2017Final abstracts acceptance confirmation date:
  30 June 2017The abstracts should be sent to  info@erf.be and they will be reviewed by a technical committee.

Topics for Presentations

• Roadway Safety Hardware Asset Management Systems
• Integrating the Infrastructure with Autonomous Vehicles
• Implementation of EN 12767 in Europe · Innovations in road side safety
• Updates from Crash Test Facilities Explaining Their Concerns Regarding EN1317 and EN12767
• Issues Regarding Notified Bodies and Regulations/Accreditation of Crash Test Facilities
• Status of Transitions Within Europe

Technical Committee:

1. Francesca La Torre, Sub-committee Co-Chair (IT)
2. Mike Dreznes, Sub-committee Co-Chair (USA)
3. Roger Bligh, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (USA)
4. Rod Troutbeck, Troutbeck and Associates (AU)
5. Gavin Williams, Highway England (UK)
6. Konstandinos Diamandouros, ERF (BE)

For other queries, contact Mr Konstandinos Diamandouros 

NB: Please note that there will be a registration fee €50.

22 September 2015 | Istanbul, Turkey

On 15 September 2015, the AFB20 (2) Roadside Safety Sub-committee on International Research Activities held its third European workshop in Istanbul, Turkey.  Organised by ERF and the Technical University of Istanbul under the auspices of the TRB, the event lived up to the high expectations of previous years and gathered approximately 100 experts from all over Europe.

The morning session was dedicated to explore challenges currently facing the hEN 1317-5 and identify tangible solutions.  While there is an overwhelming consensus of the technical benefits of the EN 1317, its incorporation in the provisions of the Construction Products Regulation has led to certain implementation issues that need addressing.  To address these challenges, the AFB 20(2) Roadside Safety Subcommittee on International research Activities held a strategic session with the participation of road authorities, manufacturers and the European Commission.

The first sessions debated three major items: certification and market surveillance, additional requirements by certain road authorities when procuring vehicle restraint systems and the issue of re-testing and rectifying systems linked to the update of the hEN 1317-5.

Concerning certification issues, lack of clarity within the standard has led to cases of incorrect certifications that are creating situations of unfair market competition and putting road users potentially at risk.  In this respect, participants agreed on a dual course of action, i.e. strengthening the hEN 1317-5 in order to provide further guidance for certification bodies to reduce scope for error and at the same time, strengthen market surveillance by improving cooperation between the market surveillance authorities, notified bodies and the industry.  On the latter point, work has already begun on a market surveillance checklist that is to be jointly elaborated by all concerned parties and will be made available to relevant authorities in the 1st half of 2016.

With respect to requirements placed by road authorities for the marketing of products, it was noted that different authorities interpret the provisions of the harmonised standard differently.  CE marking for road restraint systems should in principle allow companies to market their products freely across Europe, however, several countries argue for the need of additional criteria to ensure maintenance and safety.  While it is clear that road authorities cannot ask for additional performance criteria when procuring systems (Court Case C-100/13), there is a still a grey zone with respect to what authorities can further require in order to optimise their maintenance needs without limiting competition.  Given that manufacturers are invested significantly in the development of new products with the perspective of an open European market, it is imperative to arrive at a common ground between the supply (the industry) and the demand (the road authorities).

Last but not least, with respect to the need for re-testing products following the updates of the new standards, it was made clear that, from a market perspective, it is not possible for companies to have to re-test all products with the revision of each standard due to high testing costs.   Given that this is not an issue that can solved in the standard, it was agreed that the industry should take the lead in developing a compromise proposal that will subsequently be put to consultation to interested parties.

The afternoon of the event focussed mainly on technical developments in the field of vehicle restraint systems.  Amongst others, the sessions focussed on the following items:

–      The status of implementation of EN 1317 in Turkey and passive safety support structures (EN 12767) in Europe.  Since 2011, Turkey has adopted the CE marking regime which means that all systems placed in Turkey must be certified according to the European rule.  Given that Turkey is a dynamic country which is currently expanding its road infrastructure, it is important for authorities to make the use of the latest market development to optimise cost and reduce the  consequences of accidents.   With respect to break away poles, it is a powerful road safety tool for road authorities which is not being sufficiently used and such, more action is needed to ensure better awareness and uptake of these solutions.

–        Selection of vehicle restraint systems on Europe’s: while Europe has common performance standards for safety barriers, its selection criteria differ largely.  As such, the SAVeRS project has sought to establish a common methodology for selecting VRS in Europe.

–       Status of in-situ barriers in Europe: while the pre-cast and steel barrier sector has seen significant development in recent, in-situ concrete barriers have long been based on a generic designs dating back to more 20 years.  However, in recent years, new developments have taken place that have allowed in-situ concrete barriers to achieve better performance in terms of ASI and better durability in terms materials and corrosion resistance. The introduction of the CE marking for in-situ barriers should accelerate innovation in the sector but this means that further guidelines should be developed in the standard to guide notified bodies on certification.

–      Developments in terminals: while significant progress has been made in the field of vehicle restraint systems, terminals remain an area where significant scope for improvement exists.  Recent development in the area of energy absorbing terminals point to the direction of strengthening the relevant provision of the European standard in order to eliminate loopholes and guarantee that terminals tested on the road do not present a hazard to users.

Find the agenda of the meeting here

For more information, please contact Mr. Konstandinos Diamandouros.

28 August 2015 | Brussels, Belgium

The European Union Road Federation is delighted to announce the Draft Agenda for the next European meeting of the AFB(20)2 Roadside Safety Design Subcommittee on International Research Activities.

The one-day meeting will be co-chaired by Mr. Rod Troutbeck and Mr. Michael Dreznes. The programme will develop in two sessions:

– A political session that will focus on the implementation of the hEN 1317-5 and explore how key stakeholders (manufacturers, road authorities and European policymakers) interpret the implications of the harmonised standard for vehicle restraint systems

– A technical session which will address implementation issues on roadside safety in view of recent development in the field of research

Venue

Tuesday September 15, 2015

Istanbul Technical University, Taşkışla Campus

Istanbul, Turkey

Registration fee: € 60 per person (cash at registration)

– Draft Agenda
– Directions to venue
– Registration link

For further information, please contact Konstandinos Diamandouros.

Participants to this event are encouraged to join the IRF and ERF for the Regional Europe and Central Asia Congress that will take place in Istanbul between 15-18 September and will bring together transportation professionals from all around the world to discuss infrastructure development in a promising and expanding part of the world.