The first FIA World Prize for Road Safety, the Environment and Mobility has been awarded to the President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac.

Throughout its first 100 years, a fundamental purpose of the FIA has been to recognise achievement in motoring and motor sport. Each year our world championships provide a new opportunity to set a benchmark for the best. This year, to mark our centenary the FIA has decided to inaugurate a new award, the FIA World Prize for Road Safety, the Environment and Mobility.

This award is made by the FIA Academy from nominations made by our own membership and recognises individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to motoring.

Each year in the European Union 50,000 people are killed in road traffic crashes - 134 fatalities every day of the year. An appalling toll of lives destroyed and families devastated. Even more astonishing is that many of these deaths are preventable. We know how to make our roads safer. Wearing seat belts, enforcement of drink driving laws, respecting speed limits, better road design are all measures that work if governments have the courage and conviction to apply them. The key is political will and leadership.

For many years the road safety situation in France was disturbing. The numbers killed and injured was significantly higher than in some neighbouring countries. Then in 2002 something changed. In his Bastille Day address President Chirac announced that road safety was one of the top priorities of his new Presidential term. Road safety is not traditionally a subject that Heads of State make a major theme of one of their most important speeches of the year. But President Chirac did just that. And he encouraged his Ministry of Transport, the police, public authorities and above all the French people to take action to promote road safety.

In 2002 7,400 people died on the roads in France. Two years later, the number has dropped to 4,900. President Chirac’s initiative has resulted in an unprecedented 20% reduction in road traffic deaths.

For thousands of French families, President Chirac’s political action has avoided the terrible loss of loved ones, shattered hopes and lives cut short. The President’s Bastille Day speech and the remarkable progress it released serves a wonderful demonstration of the value and importance of political leadership.

Above all it shows that road traffic deaths are not inevitable. This is important for France, but it is a lesson that is relevant around the world. That is why this year the World Health Organisation asked President Chirac to host here in Paris the official launch of this year’s World Health Day which was devoted to the theme of road safety.