OREANDA-NEWS. November 17, 2009. According to WHO statistics, 1.2 million people are killed in road crashes, and as many as 50 million more are injured each year worldwide, reported the press-centre of ROSNO.  

For decades, improving road safety has been a major effort of Allianz, one of the largest car insurers in the world

As one of the largest car insurers in the world, Allianz has been committed to road safety for many decades. The global statistics on car accidents, road fatalities and injuries have motivated Allianz to emerge as a leader in this field, founding the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) as well as creating many programs and services by Allianz subsidiaries worldwide to aid in the reduction of accidents.

Allianz Center of Technology (AZT) research has helped decrease numbers of road accidents and their severity

Around the world, over 3000 people die in road accidents every day. For every fatality, there are many more serious injuries. It is expected that due to the increase in the volume of cars on the road, these numbers will continue to grow. As part of its damage research activities, the AZT, which is located in Ismaning near Munich, conducts one crash test every week of the year, improving road safety for approximately 50 million motor insurance customers of Allianz and all other traffic participants.

"Allianz has been committed to decreasing road accidents for decades," says Christoph Lauterwasser, Managing Director of the AZT Automotive, which was founded over 35 years ago. "The AZT conducts active accident research to improve road safety. Whether it’s mandatory safety belts, the proper application of airbags, safer travel for kids, car or car bumpers that can really absorb serious impact, the AZT’s experts have provided important impetus for change in the car industry, in regulation, and in all other aspects of road safety".

Around the world, over 3000 people die in road accidents every day and for every fatality, there are many more serious injuries

Allianz has a local approach to decreasing accidents worldwide
Numerous Allianz subsidiaries have created their own safety initiatives to specifically cater to the most significant road safety problems in their country.

"Road safety advocacy is an obvious initiative for Allianz from both a business and a humanitarian perspective," says Lauterwasser. "Safer road travel results in fewer fatalities and injuries, as well as decreased insurance claims. It’s a win-win situation for everybody".

Some examples of local Allianz road safety initiatives are:

In Russia, ROSNO promotes not only the European motor insurance standards, but also the European road safety standards: upon the company’s initiative, during special road safety lessons given by road police officers, children are given out special flickers (light-reflecting key chains making pedestrians more visible for car drivers in the night). According to statistics, pedestrians carrying such flickers decrease the risk of being struck by a car sixfold to eightfold.

IC ROSNO has been the official insurer of the third annual Car & Bike Parade 2009. Held under the auspices of the state-funded target program “For Better Traffic Safety”, this parade was dedicated to road safety and technical education of young people.

During the Nationwide Media Festival “Safety Area”, the insurance company ROSNO acted as a general partner of the festival and founded a special prize for the winner in the nomination “Safe Roads”.

IC ROSNO and its employees regularly participate in fundraising events aiming to collect monies needed for treatment and medical rehabilitation of the child victims of traffic accidents.

Allianz Ireland launched a ’Risk & Safety Services’ program designed to provide advanced driver training to drivers of commercial vehicles

Allianz Indonesia partners with the motor society Ikatan Motor Indonesia to invite novice drivers for special driving coaching

Allianz Colombia provides a free late-night car service to its clients, because drunk driving is a leading cause of accidents and death

Mondial Assistance in the United Kingdom provides advice for the back-to-school season, when children and drivers have to deal with increased pedestrian and road traffic

Allianz Austria established a fleet management system for small to mid-sized businesses, allowing for better supervision of car fleets, which in turn leads to a reduced number of accidents
Allianz Germany is the only German insurance company to grant a road safety award. The "Genius Safety Award" is awarded for technical developments that already contribute to make road traffic safer by sustainably and demonstrably reducing accidents and their severity.

Active Safety systems will help reduce accidents in the future

In 2009, the winner of the "Genius Safety Award" was Volvo’s "City Safety", which is a optical radar system that helps reduce low speed rear-end-collisions in heavy city traffic.

"Active safety systems help reduce accidents already and will do so even more in the future," says Lauterwasser. "For example, many studies have shown that the Electronic Stability Program helps to avoid severe and fatal single vehicle accidents. AZT is monitoring the effect of various driver assistance systems and is in constant exchange with car manufacturers to help design and promote effective systems".

Recent AZT studies and tests on road safety include:

Safety and Mobility of Older Traffic Participants

Motorcycle ABS effectiveness

Potential benefits of driver assistance systems in commercial vehicles

Crash safety of lightweight vehicles

World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims