(Press Release) The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Essilor announced the signature of a three-year partnership on road safety. Within the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign, Essilor and the FIA will promote good vision as a key pillar of road safety through awareness campaigns.
According to the World Health Organization, every year, 1.25 million people are killed in road crashes around the world and 50 million more are left seriously injured. Road safety begins with good vision, which is the most important sense for making decisions on the road. But public awareness is low and access to quality eyeglasses remains limited in many regions of the world. In addition, many drivers are not aware of the need to protect their vision from glare in sunny conditions or when driving at night.
The purpose of the three-year partnership between Essilor and the FIA is to fight the lack of awareness on this global health issue and highlight the importance of regular eye check for safe driving. It aims at promoting the “Check your vision” call to action among local authorities, institutions, NGOs, eyecare and medical professionals, and driving schools.
The recent announcement by the FIA on May 8 of a New Golden Rule, “Check your vision,” also represents a major step in raising awareness on poor vision as a major public health issue. It will add onto the FIA’s existing Golden Rules for road safety on other key risk factors such as speed, alcohol, seatbelt (e.g. “Obey the speed limit,” “Never drink and drive,” “Buckle up,” etc.).
Essilor will endorse road safety by providing messages, data and analysis to support FIA’s communications on the crucial role of vision in the fight against road death. It will also further reinforce its products range based on the drivers’ specific needs. Additionally, Essilor will continue to leverage innovation as a way to better correct and protect the vision of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, etc.).
“I am delighted to welcome Essilor as a partner of the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign. Vision is of critical importance to take decisions when driving. I look forward to working with Essilor to promote this important message worldwide,” said FIA President Jean Todt.
Laurent Vacherot, Essilor president and chief operating officer, stated: “We are very excited to join forces with the FIA to create such a partnership. Together, we will work towards raising awareness and providing people with good vision across the world to have safer drivers and safer roads. Today, it is estimated that nearly one driver out of five drives without an adequate correction, which is a major risk factor for road safety. Through this partnership, Essilor is taking a step further in the Group’s mission: improving lives by improving sight.”
Through this partnership, Essilor and the FIA are combining two objectives into one common ambition for the greater good: ensuring safe mobility for all across the world by improving people’s sight.