Citroen, Ford and MINI have thrown their weight behind the FIA’s Action for Road Safety, a global campaign that focuses the governing body’s resources on advocating for safer roads, vehicles and behaviour.
The World Rally Championship’s three registered manufacturers will carry FIA Action for Road Safety branding on their World Rally Cars from ADAC Rallye Deutschland onwards. Their drivers and co-drivers will also help to raise awareness for improved road safety by supporting the campaign.
Jean Todt, the FIA president, said: “Now is the time to act; road traffic accidents are the main cause of death among young people. The WRC manufacturers and their drivers and co-drivers are ambassadors and opinion formers and there is no doubt their support will help us spread important messages to millions of people around the world.”
Sebastien Loeb, who tops the Rallye Deutschland leaderboard by 7.4s following Friday’s opening six stages, said: “We are happy to support such a campaign with the FIA as this is a very noble cause and a priority. I know it is also very important to Citroen and the PSA group who are involved in developing all sorts of technologies to help increase safety on board its vehicles and help reduce the death and injury rate from car accidents.”
Ford’s European motorsport chief Gerard Quinn, whose drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti took part in a photoshoot in support of the campaign, said: “I’m delighted we have the opportunity to work with the FIA on their project. Safety is of paramount importance to Ford so any initiative where we can help to reduce serious injury or loss of life on roads around the globe is something we want to support.”
MINI’s Kris Meeke said: “We are in an ideal position to encourage safer driving to millions of fans around the world.”
Each year the world 1.3 million people are killed on the roads and another 50 million are injured, some of them very seriously.