MILAN, Italy—The Automobile Club of Italy (ACI) and EssilorLuxottica announced on Oct. 14, World Sight Day, their partnership to launch a national “Action for good vision on the road” campaign, mobilizing the population through a coalition of partners to advocate road users with good vision. Together, ACI and EssilorLuxottica will leverage the global partnership between EssilorLuxottica and FIA(1) announced in July 2021 with the aim to mobilize public, institutions, mobility players and the optical industry on the recent United Nations call to ensure good vision for all road users and in turn, improve national road safety systems, the companies said in a joint statement which was accompanied by a video manifesto.

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 recommendations, 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. This call for action was confirmed in July 2021 where the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/75/310 on “Vision for Everyone: accelerating action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

ACI and EssilorLuxottica leveraged World Sight Day to kick off the national campaign for good vision and safer roads in Italy. More than 3,000 people die on the road each year in Italy and 240,000 are injured, 7 percent seriously, according to an ACI study which noted that 24 percent of road users reported having difficulty seeing objects in the distance, with particular reference to road signs, putting lives at risk.
 
They are joined by a coalition of committed partners among which IGPDecaux, Salmoiraghi & Vigano and eyecare professionals across the country. Together they will promote to the public the “Check your vision” FIA golden rule through an “out of home” and digital awareness campaign. ACI will also involve its one million club members to get ready for the road with good vision.
 
Stepping up in 2022, ACI and EssilorLuxottica intend to collaborate on a deeper understanding of population needs for Vision and Road Safety in Italy, as well as to deploy joint advocacy initiatives and public events to develop actions for good vision on the road among professional drivers, driving schools and all road users at large.

“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. This leading collaboration with ACI in Italy demonstrates our willingness to put in motion the partnership with the FIA to create a positive and meaningful impact on road users’ safety through good vision”, commented Francesco Milleri CEO of EssilorLuxottica and Paul du Saillant, deputy CEO of EssilorLuxottica.

“Distractions, recklessness and visual deficits cause too many accidents every day and ACI's role is to raise awareness among people on the value of prevention” said Angelo Sticchi Damiani, president of the Automobile Club of Italy. “This can be done in several ways, from trainings for drivers to eye exams. Putting together our respective expertise, ACI and EssilorLuxottica in the coming months want to focus on the connection between poor vision and car accidents rate.”