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International Conference · 2026

Safe
Smart
Roads.

Bridging human drivers and AI for safer, smarter roads worldwide. Three days of research, policy, and practice — 18–20 August 2026, New Brunswick, Canada.

18–20 Aug
2026
New Brunswick · Canada
--Days
--Hours
--Minutes
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3Conference days
4Thematic tracks
200+Expected delegates
CAD $120From (virtual)
About the Conference

The conversation the road needs.

Safe Smart Roads 2026 brings together researchers, engineers, policymakers, regulators, and industry professionals for three days of rigorous dialogue on the single most important transition in road transport history: the integration of AI into everyday driving.

Unlike narrowly technical events, this conference is deliberately cross-disciplinary. We believe the challenges of human-AI collaboration on roads cannot be solved by any one profession alone. The value comes from putting these communities in the same room.

01Actionable outcomes, not just presentations
02Policy recommendations for national transport ministries
03Global South perspectives & emerging market road safety contexts
04Formation of an international working group on Human-AI Driving
05Published proceedings & special journal issue
Conference themes

"Bridging Human Drivers and AI
for Safer, Smarter Roads Worldwide"

Four core tracks address the technical, human, ethical, and governance dimensions of AI-human collaboration on roads. Each track features invited keynotes, peer-reviewed presentations, and interactive panels.

Technical Research & Engineering
ADAS, sensor fusion, autonomy levels, edge case handling, safety validation methodologies and real-world testing protocols.
Human Factors & Behaviour
Driver cognition, trust calibration, handoff dynamics, situational awareness, behavioural adaptation to AI systems and mental models.
Ethics, Law & Regulation
Liability frameworks, algorithmic accountability, regulatory design, certification standards, insurance, and public governance of AI deployment.
Global Perspectives & Equity
Emerging market contexts, Global South road safety priorities, infrastructure diversity, and inclusive design for all road users worldwide.
Shared control systems Handoff dynamics Safety validation Risk assessment AI liability Smart infrastructure Mixed traffic environments Pedestrian & cyclist safety Ethical AI design V2X communication Driver monitoring Regulatory frameworks Public trust Emerging market contexts Data privacy in AVs OTA updates & safety SAE levels 2–4 Crash causation analysis
Programme

Three days. One clear arc.

From landscape to deep dives to action — each day builds purposefully toward concrete, actionable outcomes. The full programme will be published in July 2026.

Download Programme PDF
"Foundations & Landscape"
08:30
Registration & welcome coffee
09:30
Opening ceremony & conference welcome
Plenary
10:00
Keynote I: The State of Human-AI Driving Collaboration — Where Are We Really?
Keynote
11:00
Plenary: Global road safety in the age of AI — setting the scene
Plenary
12:00
Lunch break
13:30
Parallel Track A: Technical Research — ADAS & autonomy levels
Track A
13:30
Parallel Track B: Policy & Regulation — comparative frameworks
Track B
15:30
Early-career forum & mentorship clinic
Workshop
17:00
Industry exhibition opens
18:30
Welcome reception & networking dinner
Social
Day 1 at a glance
Theme
Foundations & Landscape
Keynotes
1 plenary keynote + 1 panel keynote
Tracks
Technical Research & Policy/Regulation
Special event
Early-career forum & mentorship
Evening
Welcome reception (all delegates)
"Deep Dives & Debate"
09:00
Keynote II: Human factors in the age of autonomous systems
Keynote
10:00
Keynote III: Regulatory perspectives — building trust through governance
Keynote
11:00
Parallel research presentations (peer-reviewed papers)
Papers
12:30
Lunch break
14:00
Technical workshop: Safety validation methodologies for mixed AV/human traffic
Workshop
14:00
Workshop: Ethics in AI — liability, accountability & the trolley problem at scale
Workshop
16:00
Panel: Global South perspectives on road safety & AI deployment
Panel
17:30
Poster session & industry exhibition
19:30
Conference dinner (optional, ticketed)
Social
Day 2 at a glance
Theme
Deep Dives & Debate
Keynotes
2 keynote addresses
Workshops
2 parallel technical workshops
Feature panel
Global South perspectives
Exhibition
Poster session + industry showcase
"Action & Next Steps"
09:00
Interactive roundtables: Drafting policy recommendations for 2030
Roundtable
10:30
Research partnership matchmaking session
Networking
11:30
Working group reports & synthesis plenary
Plenary
12:30
Lunch break
14:00
Closing plenary: Roadmap for Safe Smart Roads 2030
Plenary
15:30
Awards ceremony: Best Paper & Best Innovation
Awards
16:00
Formation of the International Working Group on Human-AI Driving
Milestone
17:00
Farewell networking lunch & conference close
Social
Day 3 at a glance
Theme
Action & Next Steps
Focus
Policy, partnerships, next steps
Milestone
Working group formation
Awards
Best Paper & Best Innovation
Close
Farewell networking lunch
Keynote speakers

World-class voices on the road ahead.

We are assembling a panel of leading researchers, policymakers, and industry pioneers. Speaker announcements rolling from May 2026. Expressions of interest welcome.

PV
Prof. Priya Venkataraman
MIT Autonomous Vehicles Lab, USA
Director of Human-Machine Interaction Research; architect of the landmark ADAS Handoff Safety Framework adopted by five national transport agencies.
Technical keynote · Day 1
DF
Dr. Daniel Fournier
Transport Canada / University of Ottawa
Senior Policy Adviser on Connected & Automated Vehicles; lead author of Canada's National AV Regulatory Roadmap 2024–2030.
Policy keynote · Day 2
AO
Assoc. Prof. Amara Osei-Mensah
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana
Leading researcher in road safety for low-and-middle-income countries; WHO-funded study on pedestrian fatality reduction through AI-assisted traffic management.
Global equity panel · Day 2
MH
Dr. Miriam Hallström
Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Chair of the EU AI & Transport Ethics Working Group; specialises in algorithmic accountability, liability design, and certification frameworks for Level 3+ systems.
Ethics keynote · Day 2
RK
Rajiv Krishnamurthy
Wayve Technologies, UK
VP of Safety Engineering; oversees real-world validation programmes across London and Tokyo. Author of 40+ papers on sensor fusion in adverse weather conditions.
Industry keynote · Day 1
CL
Prof. Caroline Leblanc
École Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada
Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Human Factors; pioneer of driver state monitoring using physiological signals, with 15 years of longitudinal simulator studies.
Human factors · Day 3

Interested in speaking or nominating a speaker? We welcome expressions of interest.

Express Interest →
Call for Papers

Share your research.

We welcome original contributions across all four thematic tracks. All submissions undergo double-blind peer review. Accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings and considered for a special journal issue.

Abstract submissions open
1 May 2026
Full paper submission deadline
30 June 2026
Acceptance notifications
31 July 2026
Camera-ready deadline
8 August 2026
Conference opens
18 August 2026
Submission types
Full Research Paper
6,000–8,000 words. Original empirical or theoretical research. Double-blind peer reviewed.
Short Paper / Extended Abstract
2,000–3,000 words. Work-in-progress, preliminary findings, or focused contributions.
Poster Abstract
500 words. Present your research at the poster session on Day 2.
Industry Case Study
Real-world applications, deployment experiences, or lessons from practice. 2,000–4,000 words.
Topics of interest
ADAS safetyHuman-robot trustHandoff designCrash analysisSensor fusionV2XDriver monitoringLiability & lawInfrastructureEmerging marketsPedestrian safetySimulation methods
Venue & Logistics

New Brunswick, Canada.

The New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) in Moncton provides a purpose-built, accessible conference facility in one of Canada's most welcoming bilingual cities. Easy access from major Canadian and US airports.

Venue
NBCC Moncton Campus
1234 Mountain Road, Moncton, NB E1C 8K2
Dates
18–20 August 2026
Registration from 08:30 on Day 1
Nearest airport
Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc Airport (YQM)
15 minutes by taxi. Halifax (YHZ) 2.5 hours. Montreal (YUL) 4 hours.
Accommodation
Negotiated rates at downtown hotels TBC. Block booking details shared with registered delegates in June 2026.
Visa support
Invitation letters provided within 5 working days of registration. Contact visa@safesmartroads2026.org
Fully Accessible Venue
Wheelchair accessible throughout. Quiet rooms available. Contact us for any specific accessibility needs.
Bilingual Environment
New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province. Selected sessions and materials available in French.
Tourism & Hospitality
Tourism New Brunswick partner. Guided city tours, Fundy coast excursion, and cultural programme for delegates and accompanying persons.
Sponsorship

Shape the future of mobility.

Safe Smart Roads 2026 offers organisations a unique platform to engage with the world's leading minds in AI, road safety, and transport policy. Sponsorship funds bursaries and keeps registration accessible.

Registration

Join the conversation.

Register early to secure your place and benefit from early-bird rates. Bursaries available for students and delegates from emerging markets.

Academic / Researcher
Full conference access · All sessions, keynotes & networking
CAD $450
Industry / Professional
Full conference access · Exhibition & networking events
CAD $650
Government / NGO
Full conference access · Policy track priority access
CAD $450
Student / Early-career
Full access · Early-career forum · Mentorship clinic
CAD $200
Virtual / Remote
Live-stream access · Plenary sessions & keynotes
CAD $120

Early-bird rates (15% discount) available until 30 June 2026. Group discounts for 5+ registrations. Bursary applications open 1 May 2026.

Express your interest

Full registration portal opens May 2026. Your details are used only for conference communications. Privacy policy

FAQs

Common questions.

Click any question to expand the answer.

Anyone working at the intersection of AI and road transport — researchers, engineers, policymakers, regulators, industry professionals, students, and practitioners. The conference is deliberately cross-disciplinary; the value comes from these communities meeting in one room.
Full research papers (6,000–8,000 words), short papers / extended abstracts (2,000–3,000 words), poster abstracts (500 words), and industry case studies. All submissions undergo double-blind peer review. See the Call for Papers section for full details.
Yes. Plenary sessions and keynotes will be recorded and made available to registered delegates for 30 days post-conference. Proceedings will be published and submitted for indexing in academic databases.
Yes. A bursary scheme is planned, funded by conference sponsors. Applications open 1 May 2026. Early-career and low/middle-income country delegates are prioritised. Details will be posted on this website as they are confirmed.
Once registered, all international delegates requiring visa support will receive an official invitation letter from the Secretariat within 5 working days. We recommend registering at least 10–12 weeks before the conference to allow sufficient processing time.
Yes. A limited hybrid option is available for key plenary sessions and keynote addresses. Virtual registration (CAD $120) includes live-stream access and 30-day on-demand playback. In-person attendance is strongly encouraged for workshops and networking sessions.
The primary language of the conference is English. New Brunswick is a bilingual province (English and French) and we are exploring French-language session options for selected events. Contact us if you have language accessibility needs.
Contact the Secretariat at sponsors@safesmartroads2026.org to discuss partnership opportunities. We welcome early conversations and can create custom packages around your goals, including bursary sponsorship, social event hosting, and research publication support.
Organising Committee

The team behind Safe Smart Roads.

A lean, professional team focused on delivering exceptional scientific and practical value within an accessible budget. International programme committee members being confirmed.

AL
Aliyah Larson
Conference Chair & Lead Organiser
Safe Smart Roads Secretariat
TN
Dr. Thomas Ngozi
Programme Chair · Track 1 & 2 Lead
International Transport Research Institute
SB
Dr. Sofía Becerra
Ethics & Policy Programme Committee
Universidad Autónoma, Mexico City
JM
James McAllister
Local Organising Chair · NBCC Liaison
NBCC / Tourism New Brunswick
RP
Rania Patel
Secretariat Director · Delegate Communications
Safe Smart Roads 2026
WK
Prof. Werner Krause
International Scientific Advisory Board
TU Dresden, Germany
YT
Dr. Yuki Tanaka
Programme Committee · Asia-Pacific Liaison
University of Tokyo
EC
Emeka Chukwu
Bursary & Inclusion Coordinator
African Road Safety Foundation
Contact

Get in touch.

The Secretariat is happy to answer questions about the conference, submissions, sponsorship, visa support, or any other matter. We aim to respond within 2 working days.

General enquiries
info@safesmartroads2026.org
Paper submissions
submissions@safesmartroads2026.org
Sponsorship & partnerships
sponsors@safesmartroads2026.org
Visa support letters
visa@safesmartroads2026.org
Mailing address
Safe Smart Roads Secretariat, New Brunswick, Canada
Stay updated

Sign up to receive conference announcements, call for papers notifications, speaker reveals, and early-bird registration alerts.

Important dates
Abstracts open
1 May 2026
Submission deadline
30 June 2026
Acceptance notification
31 July 2026
Early-bird deadline
30 June 2026
Conference opens
18 Aug 2026