(PRESS RELEASE) CHARENTON-LE-PONT AND PARIS, FRANCE — EssilorLuxottica and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) announced the renewal of their partnership to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye checks for all road users and, more broadly, to promote good vision for safer roads. Together, EssilorLuxottica and the FIA will roll out a comprehensive plan mobilising public and private stakeholders, and leveraging both innovation and their global reach.
In August 2020, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/74/299, proclaiming 2021-2030 as a new “Decade of Action for Road Safety”, with the objective of halving the number of road victims by 2030. To achieve this goal, the United Nations (UN) issued a set of recommendations1, including a call for countries to implement appropriate, effective and evidence-based legislation on risk factors related to distracted or impaired driving. Adopting measures to ensure good vision for all road users is part of these recommendations. The UN also encouraged Member States to take measures to promote road safety knowledge and awareness among the population through education, training and advertising campaigns, especially among youth, and to share good road safety practice.
With 1.4 million people killed in road crashes and 50 million more seriously injured each year, safe mobility is a global priority and a key pillar to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since eyesight is a key element to make safe decisions and anticipate potential risks on the road, good vision is critical. It is part of the road safety culture and can help reduce any potential danger on the road. And even more so today, as the COVID-19 crisis has significantly accelerated the transformation of mobility, resulting in a boom of bikes, scooters and other forms of individual mobility joining cars on the road, reinforcing the need for good vision in all situations.
As part of their renewed three-year partnership within the new #PurposeDriven movement launched by the FIA, EssilorLuxottica and the FIA will continue to mobilise the general public, institutions, mobility players and eye care professionals, to address the UN’s strong call for action. Together, they will roll out a wide range of initiatives focused on: reinforcing awareness campaigns and advocacy in the run-up to the 2022 UNGA dedicated to the road safety global plan of actions; accelerating innovation in the areas of eye exams, visual solutions and other road safetyrelated products such as helmets, leveraging racing expertise to apply it to the roads and scaling up access to visual equipment in close collaboration with FIA Member Clubs all over the world. This will include joint actions with the United Nations Road Safety Fund.
EssilorLuxottica will kick off this partnership with a global “Action for good vision on the road” campaign, calling upon all eye care professionals to play a key role in raising awareness and addressing the crucial and reinforced need for good vision in all conditions, day and night. As part of this partnership, the Company will also collaborate with FIA Member Clubs and engage its own extensive network of retail footprint in Italy, North America and Australia.
“Vision is vital on the road. EssilorLuxottica’s commitment for safer roads is part of our wider responsibility as the industry leader and our mission to help people ‘see more, be more and live life to its fullest’. Public awareness about the importance of good vision remains low while the need for access to suitable eyewear continues to grow. This issue concerns everyone – low and middle-income countries as well as mature countries, from underserved
communities to professional drivers. We are confident that together with the FIA, and with the support of public and private stakeholders across the globe, we will be able create a positive and meaningful impact as part of our plan,” commented Francesco Milleri, CEO of EssilorLuxottica, and Paul du Saillant, Deputy CEO of EssilorLuxottica. “At the FIA, we are committed to improving global road safety, which includes the promotion of responsible driving. To do that, we need to build a comprehensive set of interventions, with a strong focus on prevention. Our renewed partnership with EssilorLuxottica will contribute to building a culture of safety by raising awareness on the importance of good vision for all road users,” said Jean Todt, FIA President and UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety.
Watch the official partnership video here.