A key aspect of our sustainable development strategy, the safety of passengers in our vehicles as well as ensuring safety for road users is at the heart of the company’s concerns. The Renault brand is particularly committed to the safety of young drivers as shown by a recent global communication campaign.
BY RENAULT GROUP
Asking a renowned race car driver to encourage young drivers to reduce their speed on the road? An initially counter-intuitive bet that Renault is making to prevent road accidents related to inappropriate speed involving drivers under 35. On April 6th, Renault launched a campaign to raise awareness among young people about road safety in France and internationally, embodied by Pierre Gasly, BWT Alpine Formula One Team driver. This initiative is part of Human First, a program that brings together all of Renault's safety initiatives, resulting from collaborative work between engineers, safety experts, product managers, and rescuers.
Advising on the effects of excessive or inappropriate speed
This campaign’s principle is simple: through an advertisement and a series of mini videos, the driver's advice is distilled in a variety of situations (keeping braking distance, not forgetting mirror checks before and after braking, being aware of the effects of speed on narrowing the field of vision...) as many small tutorials.
According to the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR), excessive or inappropriate speed is the main factor in fatal accidents involving young drivers presumed responsible for the accident; the French Association of Highway Companies (AFSA) even reports a rate of 52% of fatal accidents involving those under 35*. This is why in France, the campaign is even accompanied by a speed limiter offer on Renault Clio V for apprentice drivers from 17 years old. (more information)
*for the period 2019-2023
« In Formula One the goal is to exceed limits but on the road you have to respect them. »
Acting for the Safety of Our Customers and Road Users
This approach echoes the Group's strategy in terms of road safety. Innovating and implementing the best measures to ensure optimal safety for our customers, drivers, and passengers, as well as road users, is indeed a key aspect of our sustainable development strategy. In this area, the company operates on several fronts. First, accident prevention through technological advances and driving aids (ADAS) embedded in our vehicles but also supporting rescue services in case of intervention worldwide. The most emblematic initiative is undoubtedly the "fireman access" system, which allows a battery on fire to be quickly extinguished and whose patent rights the Group opened in Open Source in February 2025.
"A few years ago, the company decided to put the driver back at the center of its safety and we developed a series of initiatives, such as the Safety Coach, aimed at informing the driver about the risks of a specific journey but also about their driving style and how to improve their road behavior. The campaign with Pierre Gasly is a new illustration of this," emphasizes Stéphane Buffat, road safety expert leader and director of the accidentology, biomechanics, and driver behavior study laboratory (Le LAB).
Beyond technological advances and driver education initiatives in road safety, the Renault Foundation also plays a major role in prevention. It also supports the IMPACT program of the Antoine Alléno Association designed to raise awareness among young people, the primary population affected by road accidents. "IMPACT innovatively exploits all the potential for awareness, from immersive technologies and virtual reality to artistic performances, as many strong and engaging actions to make prevention rhyme with action," explains the Renault Foundation.
