EssilorLuxottica for good vision on the road and safe mobility

Back To List

EssilorLuxottica continues to be a strong advocate for good vision on the road and safe mobility

3 min read

Published on 15 Jun 2023

The Group’s commitment for safer roads is part of its wider responsibility as an industry leader and as embedded in its Mission and Eyes on the Planet program. Reflecting this commitment, the Company is celebrating a few important milestones in May and June, with the launch of a joint campaign with the UN, the introduction of a new breakthrough lens technology by its subsidiary, Shamir, and its participation at the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans, France, with several of the Company’s brands.

With up to 90% of the information needed on the road coming through the eyes, good vision is critical for drivers, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians to take safe and appropriate decisions.

Over the past few years, EssilorLuxottica has been driving significant change in the awareness about the importance of good vision on and off the road, together with strategic global partners, such as the United Nations (UN), the FIA (Fédération Internationale Automobile), Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) and 24 Hours of Le Mans and several local activations across the geographies. To encourage a safer daily mobility, the Group has been actively promoting the importance of regular eye exams, the need for accurate vision correction to see clearly at all distances, as well as proper solutions to manage glare both at night and during the day.

Here are some examples of the Group’s recent initiatives including key highlights from the centennial edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans:

UN Global Road Safety Week (15 – 21 May 2023)

In May, we announced a partnership with the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety to reinforce our commitment to promote good vision on the road. Following the United Nations’ call for its member countries to ensure good vision for all road users in alignment with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, we have been using our resources and track-record in vision care to promote this important issue. From 15 – 21 May, during the UN Global Road Safety Week, we launched an awareness campaign which supports the UN’s road safety targets and to highlight the call to action: “Check your vision - Drive Safe”. This is being progressively rolled out across its business networks, to reach the widest possible audience.

Launch of SHAMIR DRIVER INTELLIGENCE at the F1 Gran Premio de España 2023 (June 4)

At the recent Formula 1 Gran Premio de España 2023 on June 4, our group subsidiary, Shamir Optical, leading producer of high-performance lenses, presented its game-changing SHAMIR DRIVER INTELLIGENCE solution. Developed using the most advanced technologies, it provides optimal vision under any driving conditions, for professionals, as well as everyday drivers to transform the driving experience to one that is safer, more comfortable, and far more visually clear.

Following a period of intensive R&D, Shamir developed its new driver-dedicated lens based on extensive measurements of head movements and eye-tracking, providing a comprehensive understanding and prediction of driver visual behavior. This enabled it to develop a lens providing optimal vision for optimal driving performance, adapted to individual needs and all driving conditions. By applying elements of AI, along with insights from its optical performance partner, BWT Alpine F1 Team, Shamir produced a lens ideally suited to all manner of professional and passionate drivers and as well as everyday drivers, to provide them with improved performance and an unsurpassed driving experience. SHAMIR DRIVER INTELLIGENCE will be available in July throughout the EU from Shamir optical outlet partners, and in Asia-Pacific Countries and North America from August.

Centennial edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (10 & 11 June)

Carried by 100 years of rich and unique history, the 24 Hours of Le Mans race is both a technological challenge for car manufacturers and an unmissable spectacle for spectators.

The one hundredth anniversary of the world’s greatest endurance race certainly lived up to its billing. This year, EssilorLuxottica was thrilled to see its partner Ferrari - with whom it recently extended its partnership and signed a new license agreement for the Prancing Horse brand via the Group’s Ray-Ban brand, win the Le Mans Centenary Trophy. This was Ferrari’s 10th top level win at Le Mans and its first victory since 1965.

Honoring its passion for motor culture and the world of cinema, our flagship brand Persol celebrated 100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race through the gaze of its most iconic speed-seeker – Steve McQueen. Daring, yet impeccably stylish, McQueen’s thrill-driven lifestyle and irresistible charm – both on and off the big screen – embodies the enduring spirit of Le Mans and performance-driven Persol design in one, inimitable look – the 714. Worn backstage by McQueen during the filming of his 1971 blockbuster, Le Mans, this icon of icons captures both the flawlessly engineered style of the world’s greatest endurance race and the celebrity status of its protagonists.

Persol featured a series of iconic motor culture films in a dedicated open-air cinema and welcomed visitors at an exclusive Steve McQueen custom-designed booth where they relived the atmosphere of McQueen’s intrepid adventures through the lens of both the regular series and dedicated gold and ivory 24 Hours of Le Mans Centennial edition of the Steve McQueen 714. As part of the EssilorLuxottica Vision on the Road project, the Steve McQueen 714 will be available for purchase from the Persol Boutiques in Milan, New York and Los Angeles and www.persol.com, as well as affiliated wholesale and retail channels and Mr Porter.

EssilorLuxottica’s world-class lens brands were also present at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans including Transitions, Crizal and Varilux
The teams who were present from the Group's lens brands took turns to conduct on-site eye exams for visitors.

In order to raise awareness of the concept of reaction time and peripheral vision, a fun interactive activity called "Test your reaction time" was also proposed to highlight the importance of vision on the road.

Transitions
On the road, optimal vision is required in any light condition. At Le Mans, the brand put the spotlight on its Transitions Light Intelligent Lenses, which seamlessly adapts to changing light situations; the new generation of Transitions XTRActive, which filters up to 45% of blue-violet light indoors and up to 86% of blue-violet light* outdoors as well as Transitions XTRActive Polarized, designed for wearers who are frequently exposed to bright light and reflective glare.

*Tests performed on grey CR39 & polycarbonate lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating. Blue-violet light is between 400 and 455nm (ISO TR 20772:2018)

Crizal

Crizal, the invisible shield of protection for the eyes and lenses, was present at Le Mans to demonstrate the overall superiority of its technology. The brand showcased its latest generation of solutions, born after four years of research: Crizal Easy Pro, the easiest-to-clean antireflective coating, Crizal Rock, the best combination against scratches and smudges, and Crizal Sapphire HR, its best antireflective coating overall. Guests were invited to try out the Crizal demonstration box, and to run torture tests on an experiential table to witness the brand’s superiority in the reduction of reflections, scratch and smudge resistance as well as water and dust repellence.

Varilux
As driving can be a visually demanding activity, Varilux, the #1 progressive lens brand worldwide*, provides solutions with seamless transitions from near to far with incredible sharpness. At Le Mans, the brand highlighted its breakthrough progressive lens innovation: Varilux XR series. Powered by behavioral artificial intelligence, Varilux XR series is the best overall progressive lens¹, offering instant sharpness at all distances even in motion², adaptation from the very first day² and natural eye navigation. Other highlights at the event include the brand’s demo tool "Varilux Discovery" to help consumers feel the difference between single vision and progressive lenses, as well as an in-store digital demonstration to showcase the benefits of the new Varilux XR series lenses.

*Source: Euromonitor International, 2022 data; Retail value amongst spectacle lenses category, brands representing progressive lenses.

1. Essilor R&D simulations – 2022 – calculation based on lenses measurements weighted by the level of importance of each criteria for progressive lenses declared by users (Quantitative Consumer study - Ipsos - Q1 2022 - BR/FR/IT/UK/US - n=4000 progressive lens wearers) - Simulations done on most relevant competitive brands : brands with good level of awareness among consumers (Consumer Lens Brand Tracking - Ipsos - Q3 2022 - BR/CA/CN/FR/IN/IT/UK/US - n=8000) & offering premium progressive lenses

2. Essilor International – Varilux® XR series™ lens - in-life consumer study – Eurosyn – 2022 – France (n=73 progressive lens wearers).