National funding from UPI
The project was created in response to observations regarding the occurrence of road accidents in the Parma province. The Province of Parma saw 1,434 road accidents in 2023, with 1,853 injuries and 24 deaths. 30.5% of the injured were between 5 and 29 years old, while among the 24 dead, 2 were young people between 14 and 23 years old. Globally, according to the OECD, road accidents are the leading cause of death for children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 29. 54.2% of traffic deaths in the Province of Parma involved vulnerable road users, i.e. pedestrians and drivers of bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles, underlining the urgency of targeted safety measures for this category.
Based on these numbers, the partners identified the need to drastically reduce accidents on the roads, especially among young people who are vulnerable road users. The partners found a need for awareness-raising campaigns tailored for young people in the region, focused especially on the relationship between road accidents and alcohol and drug usage. Crucially, the partners realized the need for insights from other European countries, as a part of training local province staff to reduce the number of road accidents. The Vision Zero perspective was found particularly relevant.
The general objective of the project is: To reduce accidents caused by alcohol and drug use, with particular attention paid to young people up to the age of 20, considered vulnerable road users. Inspired by the Swedish Vision Zero model, the project aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries through an integrated approach that combines education, prevention and interventions on infrastructure, promoting safer and more responsible mobility.
The project has three specific objectives:
Strade Future is built around three main areas of action. The goal is to engage young people, institutions, and communities in creating safer and more responsible mobility. Each activity is designed to generate real impact and spark long-term change in the way young people experience the road.
The project will train 50 local professionals, including public officials, police officers, school staff, and technical staff, through:
The educational component of the project directly involves upper secondary school students through:
The project also includes concrete interventions to improve safety in areas frequented by young people:
The project will result in:
The project will in the long term have a real impact on road accidents. The project aims to achieve tangible and measurable results, aimed at improving road safety among young people. In particular, the number of road accidents related to alcohol and drug use is expected to decrease, with an estimated reduction of 5% compared to the previous year (70).
The transnational seminar in Parma, held on 27–28 May 2025, marked the first training event of the Strade Future project. Over two days of work, road police officers, local police, school staff, and technical personnel from the Province of Parma had the opportunity to engage with Swedish experts and explore innovative strategies inspired by the Vision Zero model.
The first day opened with a speech by Andrea Concas, Chief of the Municipal Police of Parma, who provided a detailed overview of the road safety situation in Italy and the challenges faced at local level. This was followed by Johannes Glanz from the County Administrative Board of Östergötland, who presented the core principles of the Vision Zero model, highlighting the importance of systemic prevention, shared responsibility, and safe urban design. During the morning session, participants took part in an initial workshop focused on comparing the Italian and Swedish systems, identifying similarities and assessing how certain practices could be adapted locally. Ulrika Nygård, from the Municipality of Luleå, then shared a practical example of collaboration between schools, social services, the police, and youth centres. In the afternoon, working groups developed prevention messages targeting families, focusing on the linguistic and cultural adaptation of communication strategies.
The second day focused on integrated prevention practices. Monika Leijon, from the Municipality of Trollhättan, presented Pubs Against Narcotics, an initiative that brings together restaurant owners, social workers, and local authorities to reduce substance use among young people. Participants then discussed how similar experiences could be replicated in the Parma area, particularly through the involvement of bars and night-time venues. Cecilia Gustafsson and Monika Leijon also outlined Trollhättan’s broader youth prevention strategy, stressing the value of cross-sector cooperation and long-term political commitment. The day concluded with a group session where participants identified key local challenges – such as alcohol abuse, drug use, and public space safety – and began outlining potential adaptations of Swedish practices.
The seminar proved to be an intense experience of mutual learning, collaborative design, and network-building. The insights that emerged will serve as the foundation for the development of the Vision Zero Toolbox, a practical tool to be created in the coming months to guide local action on responsible mobility.
Over the course of two days, a delegation of local police officers, school staff, and public officials from the Parma area had the opportunity to exchange ideas with Swedish experts and institutions working to prevent road accidents among young people, particularly those linked to alcohol and substance use.
