Canada and the United States will bring the global road safety community to Toronto this spring as they co‑host the 28th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). The event runs May 12–15, 2026, at Exhibition Place and will showcase cutting‑edge safety technologies aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries worldwide.
Co‑hosted by Transport Canada and the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ESV 2026 is built around the theme “Advancing Innovation: Technologies for Safer Vehicles.”
The conference emphasizes evidence‑based approaches to developing and deploying safety systems that can be adopted globally. With nearly 1.2 million deaths each year from road crashes, organizers said the event underscores the urgent need for harmonized safety strategies and international cooperation.
Attendees will include government officials, OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), equipment suppliers, researchers, medical and insurance professionals, legal and policy experts, students, and international media.
Technical sessions and demonstrations will cover crashworthiness, crash avoidance, automated driving technologies, active and passive safety systems, cybersecurity, and data‑driven research. The program also features interactive tours, in‑vehicle demonstrations, innovation showcases, and senior‑level plenaries focused on emerging risks and next‑generation safety standards.
In a statement, Canada’s Minister of Transport, The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, said: “Canada is proud to welcome the global road safety community to Toronto for Enhanced Safety of Vehicles 2026. By bringing together researchers, regulators, and industry leaders, we are fostering innovation and cooperation that will shape the next generation of vehicle safety and strengthen our collective efforts to make roads safer around the world.”
NHTSA Administrator The Honorable Jonathan Morrison added: “NHTSA is committed to enhancing public safety on our roads and ESV continues to be at the forefront of technological innovation, bringing together regulators, industry, and safety experts to discuss cutting‑edge advancements in vehicle safety.”
Transport Canada, headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, is the federal department responsible for transportation policies and programs, including road safety, vehicle regulations, and national transportation standards.
The NHTSA, based in Washington, D.C., United States, is the US federal agency responsible for vehicle safety standards, crash data research, and enforcement programs aimed at reducing traffic fatalities and injuries.
For more show information, visit www.esv2026.ca.