Technology to reshape road safety for everyone

Road safety has long been central to automotive innovation. From the era of seatbelts and airbags to the latest developments in ADAS and automated driving, safety features have continually evolved to protect people, both inside and outside the vehicles. Despite this, progress in reducing road fatalities remains slow.

The WHO states that globally over 1.2 million fatalities are caused each year due to poor road and traffic conditions.   In the USA, 15% of fatal crashes, 19% of injury crashes, and 22% of property-damage-only (PDO) crashes occur in the presence of adverse weather and/or slick pavement caused by ice, snow, rain and fog, study by Department of Transport.  

Governments, city planners and communities are increasingly prioritizing systemic change. Initiatives like Vision Zero and Euro NCAP's Vision 2030 reflect a shared commitment to eliminating traffic fatalities through safer infrastructure, data-driven regulation and evolving vehicle standards. This growing alignment between policy and public demand signals a critical shift: safety is no longer just the responsibility of drivers or automakers — it's a shared societal objective.

As the automotive industry continues to strive toward the long-term objective of zero road fatalities, safety standards are tightening and expectations are rising. Automakers must now integrate advanced, data-driven technologies to meet regulatory demands and support safer driving experiences across increasingly complex environments. This shift reflects a broader move away from reactive safety features toward proactive systems designed to prevent accidents before they occur. Accurate mapping, hazard detection and speed limit intelligence are becoming essential components of this new safety paradigm.

The state of road safety today

While some progress has been made, it hasn’t been fast enough. According to preliminary figures for 2024 from the European Commission, road fatalities across the EU have decreased slightly but not nearly enough to meet the region’s targets. Speeding, distraction and human error still account for the vast majority of serious crashes.

To tackle this, regulators have been updating safety requirements, and they’re looking beyond traditional mechanical features toward smarter systems. These include digital mapping for automated driving, real-time hazard detection and intelligent speed enforcement tools. The goal: to make safety proactive rather than reactive and to support every driver on the road — whether they’re fully engaged or relying on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

A patchwork of global regulations

Every region has its own approach to road safety, often shaped by local driving conditions, vehicle types and technology adoption rates. In the EU, Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) became mandatory for all newly manufactured cars starting July 2024. This system warns drivers when they’re exceeding the speed limit and can actively intervene to slow the vehicle. While it's still too early to measure ISA’s full impact, it’s already being seen as a key pillar in Europe’s effort to reduce speed-related crashes.

Recently, the Euro NCAP released its updated 2026 testing protocol. These new standards place even greater emphasis on driver support systems, pedestrian and cyclist detection and the integration of real-time data sources like maps and speed intelligence. For OEMs, that means embedding these capabilities into the very heart of their in-vehicle software.

In China, the conversation around road safety is also intensifying. Following a fatal crash involving a vehicle using partially automated features, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued new rules on how carmakers can label and market ADAS functionality. As of April 2025, OEMs are no longer allowed to describe Level 2 systems using the term “autonomous” and critical features like automated lane changes and highway pilot must be disabled unless clearly monitored by the driver. This regulatory tightening is sending shockwaves across global industry and is being closely watched in Europe where similar concerns have been raised.

Technology has the answer

Amid tightening regulation and rising industry expectations, technology is increasingly being applied to address road safety challenges. Accurate and intelligent map data now serves as a key component in supporting safety-critical functions across both manual and semi-autonomous driving systems — extending well beyond traditional navigation use cases.

Maps for automation: foundational, but not without complexity

ADAS systems depend on a blend of in-vehicle sensors and external data to function effectively. Radar and cameras can detect nearby vehicles and lane markings, but they can’t anticipate what’s around the corner.

As vehicles progress toward Level 3, 4 and eventually full autonomy, ensuring safety becomes increasingly complex. At these levels, systems must make split-second decisions in environments that are dynamic, unpredictable and often poorly marked. Navigating complex intersections, temporary road changes or unstructured urban spaces remains a significant challenge — especially when human supervision is minimal or absent. Without continuously updated maps with the right level of detail and reliable contextual data, automated systems risk being caught off guard by real-world variables that sensors alone can’t interpret in time.

TomTom’s Orbis maps for automation provide details about road and lane geometry, slopes, curvature and intersections. This data helps vehicles manage adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and emergency braking more accurately. It’s also a crucial building block for higher levels of automation where the driver may not be fully engaged.

By combining static map data with dynamic inputs such as road closures or updated temporary speed limits, TomTom helps to ensure that safety systems always have the context they need. OEMs use this data not only to comply with safety standards but also to enhance the comfort and reliability of assisted driving.

Looking around the corner with Hazard warnings

Hazard warning systems represent another critical application of real-time data in road safety. Hazard intelligence can be sourced from a wide network of inputs, including connected vehicles, emergency services, road authorities and mobile devices. Modern systems are capable of delivering a broad range of warnings such as alerts for broken-down vehicles, roadworks, slippery surfaces, fog and blizzards.

In countries like Germany and the United States, targeted blizzard and snow warnings have been used during severe winter conditions to help drivers reroute, reduce speed or postpone travel. These timely notifications have been linked to reduced risky driving behavior and fewer weather-related incidents.

Unlike static systems, advanced hazard warning platforms operate in real time and cross-validate information from multiple sources to minimize false positives and maintain reliability. This level of accuracy enables automakers to integrate such warnings directly into driver assistance systems and in-vehicle displays.

TomTom provides accurate, freshest data and information through its Hazard warnings data sets. These could have a range of warning that can be divided in three parts – Traffic hazards (Vehicle accident, jam tail warning, emergency vehicle approaching etc), Road hazards (object on road, roadworks etc) and Road-weather Hazards (slippery road, reduced visibility, strong wind etc)

A few quick examples of such warnings are the recent snowfall and icy roads causing disruptions around Munich, Germany.

Yet another example is that of a historic snowstorm in the US in January 2025, TomTom data showed high numbers of hazards on the road helping people navigate during such an event.

TomTom Amigo Map is another example of how emergency vehicle alerts warn drivers of incidents on the road.

Speed intelligence for safer, more adaptive driving

Speed is a major factor in road safety, and managing it effectively is essential for both human and automated driving systems. With regulations like Europe’s Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) mandate now in effect, access to accurate, timely speed data has become a foundational requirement for vehicle safety technologies.

ISA systems depend on detailed inputs — including permanent speed limits, temporary construction zone restrictions and variable digital signage — to provide appropriate alerts and, where necessary, automatic speed control. Visual, acoustic and haptic signals can help drivers adjust in real time, while automated interventions assist in keeping speeds within safe and legal thresholds.

TomTom’s extensive stack of ISA solutions provides the components needed for carmakers and OEMs to build systems that support the regulatory requirements.

Live Speed Restrictions add a dynamic layer by capturing real-world changes such as temporary limits through construction sites or live event-based traffic management signs. These updates ensure that vehicles and drivers have access to the most current speed information available — a critical factor for maintaining compliance and preventing crashes. In addition, comprehensive speed camera databases — covering both fixed and mobile enforcement points — help improve driver awareness and promote safer speeds in monitored areas.

In addition to the data sets, our software and data-delivery solutions help with easy integration and continuous availability of relevant information for much more safer drives. Together, these elements create a responsive speed management framework that enhances safety, supports regulatory goals and improves trust in automated systems.

Advancing road safety through intelligent innovation

As vehicles become increasingly autonomous, the role of the human driver will evolve, though responsibility for safety will remain. In this context, the accuracy and reliability of the data that powers automated systems will become even more critical.

TomTom provides safety and regulatory solutions designed to support OEMs in meeting evolving requirements, managing risk and maintaining trust in increasingly complex mobility environments. Its technologies — including detailed maps for ADAS with highly accurate lane-level information, real-time hazard warnings and live speed data — contribute to broader efforts aimed at reducing road fatalities and serious injuries.

By delivering timely, context-aware information, TomTom plays a role in advancing safer, more informed driving experiences across both current and emerging vehicle platforms.