The United Nations (UN) has identified good vision as a critical success factor to enhance global road safety, making the recommendation part of its regulatory framework.  

With up to 90% of the information needed to take safe decisions on the road coming through our eyes, the UN’s Inland Transport Committee (ITC) stressed good vision is a critical factor for the safety of drivers, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians of all ages. However, there’s still a substantial lack of awareness about the importance of good vision, said ITC, and access to sustainable eye care remains limited in large parts of the world, with one in three people still suffering from uncorrected poor vision, so access to regular vision screenings is crucial. 

Essilor welcomed this major milestone, saying it was an incentive to facilitate access to eyecare and reinforces the company’s commitment towards safe mobility as a donor to the United Nations Road Safety Fund. 

“This historic achievement builds on the third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held in Stockholm last February, where main representatives of governments, public and private sectors called for a precise framework to achieve the United Nations’ road safety-related 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Essilor in a statement. “Following the Stockholm declaration, the ITC recommendations for Enhancing National Road Safety Systems, which came into effect on 1 April, represent a major guide towards road safety across the globe. It particularly calls countries to adopt specific rules to ensure appropriate vision for all road users as an important lever to achieve this goal.” 

As part of this and as countries gradually lift their lockdown restrictions during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Essilor said it will launch an international public campaign entitled, On the road again in June 2020. Driven by the hashtag #MaxVisionMaxSafety, the campaign will encourage drivers, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy their recovered mobility safely with optimal vision, said Essilor.