Széchenyi István University has successfully organized the Road Safety Conference for the second time in collaboration with its partners, an event which was launched a year ago with the aim of establishing a tradition. Experts in the field were invited to attend presentations by national and international speakers, round-table discussions, debates and the presentation of new scientific results. 

The Road Safety Conference was first held last year in Győr, thanks to the joint efforts of the University’s Department of Transport, the Hungarian Scientific Association for Transport, and the Institute for Transport Sciences. The goal of the international conference was to create a platform for professionals, researchers, and relevant companies to share experiences and discuss ideas. The success of the event was demonstrated by its continuation this year, which took place on September 19-20 at Hotel Famulus. The event was also supported by the Association of Hungarian Insurers (MABISZ), MÁV-Start Zrt., and the Accident Prevention Committee of Győr-Moson-Sopron County.

International students of Széchenyi István University presented their research at the conference. (Photo: Csaba József Májer)

“Our event, which started last year, can be seen as a beacon, as it addresses the pressing issues of road safety in a much-needed manner,” said Dr Balázs Horváth, Head of the Department of Transport at the University and Secretary-General of the Hungarian Scientific Association for Transport, during his opening speech. He added that the association is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, while the University held its first opening ceremony in Győr exactly 50 years ago. “Over the past five decades, Széchenyi has grown from a small institution into one of the country’s most significant universities. I hope our conference will follow a similar path in the coming years,” he emphasized.

Dr Balázs Horváth, Head of the Department of Transport at Széchenyi István University, welcomed participants to the international conference. (Photo: Csaba József Májer)

Dr Csaba Koren, Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences, highlighted that road safety encompasses many sectors. “Transport science is at its core, but civil engineering, infrastructure management, information technology, and vehicle manufacturing are also key factors in creating a safer transport environment. One of the missions of our conference is to facilitate dialogue between these different specialised fields and to discuss shared responsibilities,” he stressed.

Dr Csaba Koren, Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences, emphasized the need for cooperation across different scientific fields. (Photo: Csaba József Májer)

In his welcome speech, Dr Ramón Farkas, Head of the Life Insurance Department at MABISZ, pointed out that the event in Győr coincided with Safety Week, which primarily focuses on prevention, raising awareness, education, and strengthening safety. “It is essential to teach both children and adults that responsible behaviour can prevent numerous accidents. By adhering to the rules, risks can be significantly reduced. The event series, which has been running for eight years and educates young people through engaging demonstrations and the involvement of experts, has now reached a total of 100,000 participants,” he summarized. He concluded by stating that the shared goal is to reduce the number of accidents and enhance road safety.

Dr Ramón Farkas, Head of the Life Insurance Department at MABISZ, highlighted the importance of education in reducing the number of accidents. (Photo: Csaba József Májer)

During the two-day event, domestic and international speakers explored the topic from various perspectives, including regulatory, social, and technological aspects. “One of the key focus points of the conference was education and training for proper road behaviour, which was also addressed by the participants of our roundtable discussion. Experts reaffirmed the importance of collaboration to effectively reduce the number of traffic accidents. We have just concluded a highly useful and successful conference, and during the closing session, we were already discussing plans and possibilities for next year’s event,” summarised Dr Diána Sarolta Henézi, Deputy Dean for Education at the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences, and the chief organiser of the conference.

Dr Diána Sarolta Henézi, Deputy Dean for Education at the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences, also discussed the continuation of the conference. (Photo: Csaba József Májer)