The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and CAA-Québec, in partnership with the FIA Foundation for Automobile and Society and Transport Canada, held a live road safety demonstration today featuring seven-time Formula One Drivers’ Champion Michael Schumacher and Canadian racing legend Jacques Villeneuve.

Schumacher and Villeneuve called on Canadians to think about safety technologies when they consider their next vehicle purchase. Systems such as electronic stability control already exist in some vehicles and can prevent accidents before they happen, but according to the two legendary drivers, these technologies should be more widely available and sought out by consumers.

“We know these technologies reduce the impact of injuries and save lives,” Schumacher said. “Canadians should be aware of them, and make them a consideration when buying a new vehicle.”

Paul Pelletier, president of CAA-Québec, an organization which champions road safety, agrees with Schumacher and Villeneuve.

“Safer drivers in safer cars, on well-built roads is what we call a winning combination to reduce the number of road collision victims,” said Pelletier.

Four systems – Electronic Stability Control, Warning and Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Lane Support – were demonstrated with the help of CAA-Québec expert drivers, at Transport Canada’s Motor Vehicle Test Centre in Blainville, Québec. A fifth technology, Speed Alert, is widely available in Europe and will hopefully become an option on North American vehicles soon.

“As a race car driver, I know that any technological edge I can get is important,” said Villeneuve. “The same is true when it comes to vehicle safety.”

Rob Merrifield, Minister of State for Transport, was also present to underscore the Government of Canada’s commitment to vehicle safety technologies.

“Road safety is a key priority for our Government and we applaud this opportunity to further educate Canadians about these new vehicle safety technologies,” said Minister Merrifield. “Our Government supports these life-saving technologies and recognizes that vehicle safety technologies save lives.”

Today’s event, part of the run-up to Sunday’s Montreal Grand Prix, allowed more than 150 guests and media representatives to hear experts’ professional opinion while watching a live demonstration and trying out the technologies themselves.