The FIA, Federation Internationale de l’Automobile officially unveiled a stand at the 2010 Mondial de l’Automobile Paris today. The stand features the FIA, FIA Foundation,eSafetyAware!, 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button’s car and a crash tested consumer vehicle.
The President of the FIA, Jean Todt, was joined at the inaugural launch of the FIA stand by influential manufacturers. Jean Todt spoke about the importance of improving safety for all road users and the necessity to continue research and development into onboard vehicle safety technology to reduce fatalities.
Jean Todt stated: “All of us involved in motoring are aware of the current tragic road death figures. Road crashes already kill on a scale of Malaria or Tuberculosis and they are forecast to increase dramatically unless action is taken. Last year alone 1.3 million people were killed and 50 million injured. By 2030, the projected number of deaths on the world’s roads will be roughly double the current level. The FIA is involved in two major initiatives, the eSafetyAware! campaign and the Decade of Action for Road Safety, both of which we hope will lead to a marked decline in road fatalities.
As President of eSafetyAware! I am pleased that so many vehicle manufacturers and safety technology companies are partners in eSafety Aware!. This involvement has lead to advances in European road safety, including improvements in road and car design and driver education. However, it is essential that there is increased public awareness of eSafety technologies which have the potential to prevent many accidents and save many lives. From 2012 Electronic Stability Control will be mandatory for all new cars in the EU which will avoid many injuries and save lives.
The United Nations proclaimed 2011-2020 a Decade of Action for Road Safety. It the FIA’s objective to save 5 million lives and to prevent 50 million people from being injured on the world’s roads over the next ten years. We are calling on all of those involved in the automobile industry to work with us in the research and development of life saving vehicle technologies, and the promotion of the Decade of Action for Road Safety. I am sure that by working together we can take a major leap forward towards achieving the goal of creating safer mobility for all and making roads safer.”
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation of the world’s leading motoring organisations. Founded in 1904, with headquarters in Paris, the FIA is a non-profit making association. It brings together 226 national motoring and sporting organisations from 132 countries on five continents. Its member clubs represent millions of motorists and their families.
The FIA has been dedicated to representing the rights of motoring organisations and motor car users throughout the world via campaigns and activities that defend their interests. On issues such as safety, mobility, the environment and consumer law the FIA actively promotes the interests of motorists at the United Nations, within the European Union and through other international bodies.
The FIA is also the governing body for motor sport worldwide. It administers the rules and regulations for all international four-wheel motor sport including the FIA Formula One World Championship, FIA World Rally Championship and FIA World Touring Car Championship.