Johnson & Johnson Receives Prestigious Honor, The Prince Michael International Road Safety Award
Company’s Outstanding Achievement and Innovation in Road Safety Earns Recognition
High Wycombe, United Kingdom (April 7, 2011) – Today HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO awarded Johnson & Johnson the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for the company’s long-standing commitment to road safety. Each year, nearly 1.3 million people are killed on roads worldwide, and up to 50 million more are injured, according to the World Health Organization. While road traffic injuries are preventable, they remain the number one cause of death among young people worldwide.
The Johnson & Johnson global SAFE Fleet program, which educates and trains employees about safe driving techniques and injury prevention strategies, has led to significant reductions in fleet crashes and injury rates. Since SAFE Fleet was first introduced in 1994, the company’s crashes per million miles driven (CPMM) rate has decreased by 37% globally.
“The goal of SAFE Fleet is to ensure that our drivers around the world return home safely at the end of each day – to their benefit and the benefit of their families and communities,” said Alex Gorsky, Vice Chairman, Executive Committee, Johnson & Johnson, and executive sponsor of SAFE Fleet. “We’re honored to receive this award and grateful for the attention such an award brings to this critical issue.”
Each year the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award publicly recognizes the most outstanding achievements and innovations designed to improve road safety. The award was presented by HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO during a special ceremony at the Johnson & Johnson High Wycombe facility.
“I am delighted to recognise Johnson & Johnson for its outstanding achievements in road safety worldwide,” says Prince Michael. “The need for enhanced road safety is one of the most intractable of world problems and I applaud the company as a fine example to the private sector of what can be done to address this global endemic. Urgent action is needed today and during the forthcoming decade of action to help reduce these tragic, yet preventable deaths and injuries.”
Thousands of people are killed or injured in road crashes each day, and it is projected that annual road traffic deaths will increase to 1.9 million people by 2020. To help bring needed attention to this dire issue, the United National General Assembly has announced the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. The United Nation’s campaign goals will be focused on stabilizing and ultimately reducing the projected forecast of road traffic deaths worldwide by 2020.
Johnson & Johnson has an enduring commitment to improving people’s health, and places a strong emphasis on continually improving the health and safety of its employees. This year, Johnson & Johnson celebrates its 125th anniversary, reflecting on how its products, services and innovations have been powered by generations of employees inspired to make a difference in the lives of others. SAFE Fleet is just one of many programs designed to protect employees, families, customers and communities. Johnson & Johnson has set new internal performance targets for SAFE Fleet as part of its five-year sustainability goals, which will be announced later this year.
ABOUT JOHNSON & JOHNSON
Caring for the world, one person at a time…inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science — bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our 114,000 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.
For more information, visit www.jnj.com.
ABOUT PRINCE MICHAEL INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY AWARDS
Since 1987, the Awards have given public recognition to those who have improved road safety throughout Britain. Now the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards recognise outstanding achievement and innovation worldwide.The awards are organised and managed by RoadSafe. http://www.roadsafe.com/
Media Contacts:
David Keown
T: +44 (0) 1494 567 498
E: dkeown@its.jnj.com
Sandra S. Lee
T: +1 310-796-6942
E: slee3@its.jnj.com
###
