A former Ferrari boss has a blunt message: Your commute is more dangerous than his old job
Former Ferrari Boss Warns: Commute Risk Outstrips Racing
Qinilo.com – Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt has a clear message: the dangers of daily commuting now exceed those of his former career in motorsport. Once a pivotal figure in rally racing and a key leader at Ferrari’s Formula One operations, Todt transitioned to a new role as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety. In this capacity, he has drawn attention to the alarming contrast between the controlled risks of high-speed circuits and the unpredictable threats of modern urban roads.
“When I started as a boy, it was very, very dangerous. People were not surprised if somebody got killed in a racing car,”
Todt reflects, underscoring how the sport once carried a higher fatality rate. Today, advancements in vehicle technology, stringent safety regulations, and improved track design have transformed racing into a much safer endeavor. Yet, he argues, the same cannot be said for the roads that connect millions of people to their daily lives.
The Evolution of Motor Racing Safety
Motor racing has undergone significant transformation over the decades, making it one of the safest sports in the world. Todt, who served as FIA president from 2009 to 2018, played a central role in implementing these changes. During his tenure, the FIA introduced measures such as mandatory helmets, reinforced crash barriers, and stricter driver safety protocols. These innovations have drastically reduced the number of fatalities in motorsport, with some races now featuring near-zero risk of death.
However, Todt emphasizes that this progress has not translated to the broader roadscape. “The same technologies and practices that saved lives on tracks are missing from everyday streets,” he says. He points to the lack of enforcement of basic safety measures, such as seat belts and helmets, as a critical gap. “We have the prescriptions: education, law enforcement, quality of vehicles, quality of roads, and quality of post-crash care,” he explains. But the implementation of these solutions remains inconsistent, particularly in developing regions.
The Global Road Safety Crisis
Todt’s current focus is on addressing the global road safety crisis, which claims over 1.2 million lives annually. This figure, he notes, has remained largely unchanged for decades, making it a “silent pandemic on the road.” The most vulnerable are children and young adults aged five to 29, who are disproportionately affected by road accidents. In low- and middle-income countries, where 90% of these fatalities occur, the problem is even more severe due to underfunded infrastructure, limited access to safety equipment, and lax enforcement of traffic laws.
He highlights the importance of systemic change, urging governments and communities to prioritize road safety as a public health issue. “If you teach a young child how to behave on the road, they’ll carry that knowledge into adulthood,” Todt says. This underscores the need for early education and consistent enforcement of safety regulations. Without such measures, he warns, the current trajectory of road accidents will persist, despite the lessons learned from motorsport’s own safety evolution.
“Prevention is essential. It took motor racing decades to believe that. The roads, I hope, will not need as long,”
Todt concludes. His message serves as a stark reminder that while the sport he once commanded has become a model of safety, the real challenge lies in replicating that success on the streets where ordinary people face daily risks. By leveraging the expertise gained from decades in motorsport, Todt believes a safer future is within reach—but only if action is taken now.