The ProtAct-Us project, submitted to the Horizon Europe program with the support of INOVA+, was approved and will receive 4 million euros to help shape the future of road safety in Europe.

Led by Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH, ProtAct-Us brings together a consortium made up of 15 entities, including eight European countries: Austria, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal. INOVA+ is among the partners.

The project combines solid medical knowledge with innovative engineering solutions. The aim is to protect all road users from serious injuries and the long-term physical, cognitive and mental health consequences of road accidents.

Current Road Safety Challenges

Combating serious injuries and other long-term consequences from road accidents remains an important issue. The rise of personal transportation in urban areas, autonomous vehicles, new mobility devices and the need to ensure the safety of vulnerable road users require innovative approaches.

In this context, the main challenges of the ProtAct-Us project include the correlation of medical data, and the standardization and classification of the long-term consequences of road accidents for physical, cognitive and mental health. The aim of the project is to create robust and reliable assessment tools and methods that enable the development of effective countermeasures for all road users.

ProtAct-Us: €4 million to meet five major goals

The promoters of the ProtAct-Us project propose to achieve five specific objectives, with a major impact on the future of road safety.

  1. First, the inclusive protection of all road users. In this context, the project will mitigate the long-term consequences of physical disability and mental health disorders. To this end, methods for assessing specific injuries and early interventions for mental health will be developed.
  2. Second, the reduction of social costs. In this context, costs related to hospitalization and other costs related to injuries resulting from road accidents will be identified and categorized. Strategies for responding to early treatment will also be optimized.
  3. Third, the updating of medical and engineering tools and methods. The project will develop medical and epidemiological indicators focused on long-term consequences. It will further update biomechanical models and physical testing tools to evaluate injuries with long-term consequences.
  4. Fourth, the development of new protection principles. In this context, protection solutions will be updated for vehicle occupants, bus passengers and cyclists. The project will also develop new protections for pedestrians in critical traffic situations.
  5. Finally, evidence-based policies will be developed. ProtAct-Us aims to collaborate with policymakers to harmonize requirements for policies, regulations and standards. The objective is to promote the updating of policies, through international cooperation and interaction with other European and global initiatives on this topic.

Impact on the Future of Road Safety

Transport safety and protection of its users is one of the ten key areas of action of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy adopted by the European Commission in 2020. The European Union’s long-term objective is to get as close as possible to zero fatalities in road transport by 2030 – “Vision Zero”.

ProtAct-Us aims to support this objective by reducing the socio-economic costs related to road accidents and the personal consequences for victims. The project will, to this end, develop a new generation of protection principles and innovative tools to improve road safety for all groups of road users.

With an innovative approach that integrates medical and engineering expertise, ProtAct-Us is at the forefront of the fight for road safety. By bringing together a diverse consortium, the project promises to promote a safer and more resilient road environment in Europe.

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