Digitalization and automation are changing the world of mobility faster than ever. New European regulations are also rapidly making Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) commonplace in vehicle fleets. According to Van Wersch, to fully utilize the road safety potential of these systems, we need a different role for the government.

"Traditionally, the government primarily fulfilled the role of legitimate authority," explains Van Wersch. "This means that politicians set goals, which the civil service implements within the applicable framework. That role remains important, but it's no longer sufficient. Mobility has simply become too complex to be managed solely through rules and procedures. That's why we also operate as a networked government: we go out and actively seek collaboration with civil society organizations and partners in the field. Because you never achieve results alone. Within the ADAS Alliance, we therefore collaborate with umbrella organizations, industry organizations, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to make real progress."

According to him, this collaboration is crucial. “Anyone who wants to improve road safety must consider the triangle of vehicle, infrastructure, and behavior. We've already tried many traditional measures—from separated bike paths to anti-distraction campaigns. And from making roadsides safer to speed bumps. But the feasibility of road safety has its limits. Major infrastructure interventions are expensive, and moreover, there are simply too few people available to do all the work. At the same time, vehicles are developing rapidly. That presents a huge opportunity.”

That opportunity lies in the future with self-driving vehicles, but currently it is mainly in the integration of driver assistance systems into the Dutch vehicle fleet. Due to European requirements, many new cars are now equipped as standard with a number of driver assistance systems that prevent accidents or limit their impact. "But technology alone is not enough," warns Van Wersch. "From the latest Monitor Smart Mobility It turns out that road users' knowledge level is still far too low. Many people don't know that their car has certain systems, how they work, or how to use them optimally. This presents a clear challenge for the ADAS Alliance: to ensure better education and understandable information, so we can fully utilize the safety-enhancing potential of these systems.

With his focus on collaboration and innovation, Van Wersch looks to the future with confidence. "The mobility world is in transition. As a government, we don't just want to enforce laws, but above all, we want to be a partner in the network. Only together can we fulfill the promise of smart technology and elevate road safety in the Netherlands."