[External opportunities: Awards] 2026 Excellence in Road Safety Awards
The European Road Safety Charter, the EU’s largest civil society platform dedicated to improving road safety and led by the European Commission, has officially opened applications for the 2026 Excellence in Road Safety Awards. The awards honour organisations and individuals across Europe whose initiatives are delivering measurable, real-world impact in making roads safer.
The 2026 awards will be presented during the EU Road Safety Conference on 23 November 2026 at the Charlemagne Building in Brussels. This flagship event marks the halfway point in Europe’s 10-year strategy to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 and will bring together policymakers, researchers, employers, and civil society leaders to explore the future of safe mobility.
Award categories for 2026
Applications are invited in the following categories:
- At work – Measures addressing road safety for employees, fleets, and work-related travel.
- Education – Initiatives that raise awareness and teach road safety skills.
- Technology – Innovative projects applying new technologies to prevent crashes and enhance safety.
- Urban – Initiatives that make cities and towns safer for all road users.
- Vulnerable road users – Actions protecting cyclists, pedestrians, people using personal mobility devices, and other at-risk road users.
Applicants must demonstrate how their initiative has delivered tangible, measurable results and effectively addressed a road safety challenge. While applicants do not need to be current Charter members, joining the European Road Safety Charter is required to submit an entry.
A Spotlight at the EU Road Safety Conference
The EU Road Safety Conference will convene leaders from across Europe to discuss critical emerging issues, including the meaning of health data for road safety, the rise of connected and automated vehicles, the vital role of employers in preventing work-related road risk, and the growing importance of data-driven policy and decision-making.
Participants will share cutting‑edge research, showcase innovative practices, and build cross‑sector partnerships to accelerate progress toward safe, sustainable mobility for all. The Excellence in Road Safety Awards ceremony will serve as a key highlight of the event, celebrating the continent’s most inspiring and impactful initiatives.
Driving progress toward Vision Zero
The awards contribute to the EU’s Vision Zero ambition to eliminate road fatalities and serious injuries by 2050, supported by the interim target of halving them by 2030. Since 2006, the awards have highlighted outstanding achievements from across the Charter’s growing community of more than 4,000 members.
Key dates
Application deadline: Wednesday 10 June 2026 (12:00 CET)
Awards: Part of the EU Road Safety Conference - Monday 23 November 2026, 09:30–19:00 at the Charlemagne Building, Brussels
Apply today: Click here
For full submission guidance and to apply click here.
