(PRESS RELEASE) Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, announced it pledges a donation of 1 million glasses and sunglasses to the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNSRF), as they partner to promote global action on good vision for road users. The announcement comes ahead of the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference (19th- 20th February) in Stockholm, to set the agenda for achieving the UN 2030 goals for road safety.
Every day 3,700 people die on the world’s roads, making road accidents the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 5–291; a trend which has grown in the past years as mobility develops worldwide. Preventing traffic-related injuries and fatalities is crucial to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on health, cities and infrastructure, where road safety plays an important role.
With up to 90% of the information needed on the road coming through our eyes, good vision is critical for drivers, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians to take safe and appropriate decisions. However, there is a substantial lack of awareness about the importance of good vision and access to sustainable eye care remains limited in large parts of the world, with 1 in 3 people still suffering from uncorrected poor vision.
By partnering with the UNRSF, Essilor will leverage its track-record in vision care to contribute to safe mobility across the globe. In addition to the donation of 1 million glasses and sunglasses between now and 2030, a landmark year for the SDGs, the Group will continue to innovate for solutions to diagnose, correct, protect and enhance the vision of all road users.
Speaking ahead of his attendance at the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference, Laurent Vacherot, CEO Essilor International explained: “In a world where mobility is increasing, this pledge will help improve road safety as well as people’s lives, in line with our ambition to eliminate poor vision by 2050. To do so, Essilor will use its voice and expertise to raise awareness on this important topic and provide access to corrective and protective vision solutions.”
“Good vision is critical for road safety. Without it we endanger not only ourselves but everyone on the road. By addressing the visual needs of all road users, we’re contributing to making the world’s roads safer and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for a better future,” added Jayanth Bhuvaraghan, chief mission officer of Essilor and EssilorLuxottica.
This latest decision by Essilor to join the UNRSF further reinforces the Company’s commitment towards road safety, which goes back to Essilor’s partnership with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), signed in 2017, to jointly lead the fight against poor vision on the road.