(L to R) Alexis Garcin, Michelin North America; Dave Reaves, LensCrafters; Jean Todt, United Nations; Rick Gadd, EssilorLuxottica; and David Navarro, EssilorLuxottica.

NEW YORK—Executives from EssilorLuxottica and Michelin North America gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City yesterday, June 29, 2022, to discuss the “Action for Good Vision on the Road. Together for Safer Roads” campaign. The conference was opened by Jean Todt, United Nations Secretary General’s special envoy for road safety. Rick Gadd, president of wholesale for EssilorLuxottica Canada; Dave Reaves, vice president of operations for LensCrafters; and Alexis Garcin, president and CEO of Michelin North America also spoke. David Navarro, vice president, vision on the road group plan, EssilorLuxottica, moderated the talk.

With the world largely returning to mobility, the United Nations is calling stakeholders to address gaps and join efforts to achieve the 2nd Decade of Action for Road Safety, halving road victims by 2030. EssilorLuxottica is taking a leadership role in building awareness and access to good vision to help achieve this goal.

Good vision for safer roads has been included in the United Nations’ resolutions and calls to countries for the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Yesterday’s conference supported the UN’s High Level Meeting on Global Road Safety. Todt explained, “As we start a new Decade of Action for Road Safety, we have a key role to play by our actions at all levels, from authorities to individuals. Like buckling up your safety belt and wearing a helmet, it is important to check your vision, protect your eyes from glare, wear your prescribed glasses on the road: simple rules can save lives."

 
At the meeting, Reaves reconfirmed EssilorLuxottica’s commitment as an industry leader for road safety. He outlined the leaders coalition between EssilorLuxottica, the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which aims to mobilize the public, the optical industry and mobility stakeholders on the UN’s call to countries to ensure good vision for all road users.

LensCrafters rolled out retail engagement in North America, Italy and Australia in 2021 to echo this call, and followed it up with multi-channel corporate campaigns and training. Reaves underscored LensCrafters’ commitment to “check your vision” as a golden rule for road safety, and identified this as its main call to action.

Garcin provided an overlook of the partnership between Michelin and EssilorLuxottica, which began in 2019 when Michelin and Essilor signed an MOU to start collaboration on road safety activities. In 2020, the two rolled out a global campaign to raise awareness of the importance of protecting both your eyes and tires—this was under the slogan “Check your vision, check your tires.” The campaign has been deployed in France, Indonesia, Thailand and Argentina.

This summer, Michelin and LensCrafters are teaming up for a campaign in the U.S. as well, Garcin revealed. The campaign focuses on the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, some of the most dangerous days for car accidents in the U.S. The campaign encourages all drivers to partake in safety checks before their summer adventures, and highlights the importance of checking your eyes and your tires before hitting the road—the intersection of road safety and vision. The campaign’s main safety tips include checking tire pressure and tread once a month, rotating tires regularly and keeping proper vehicle alignment.

Finally, Gadd discussed how EssilorLuxottica’s commitment to vision for all also translates to good vision for all road users. EssilorLuxottica’s goal is to mobilize the optical community, beginning with its over 400,000 doctors around the world, Gadd said. He specifically focused on the role of ECPs in spreading this message.

By focusing on expanding access and awareness of this mission and committing to innovation, EssilorLuxottica supports its doctors in spreading this safe vision for safe roads campaign. In addition, Gadd explained details about EssilorLuxottica’s new Vision S700 machine, an instrument that helps patients experience firsthand how using polarized lenses on the road makes it safer and easier to drive. The instrument was showcased at the UN, with guests able to experience it themselves.