Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, who heads up Pavyllon Monte-Carlo at Monaco’s Hôtel Hermitage, has launched a pioneering initiative called Impact that aims to combat road violence through innovation, awareness campaigns and legislative change. The project, created in conjunction with the Fondation Renault, was presented in Paris on 4th March by the Antoine Alléno Association, named after the acclaimed chef’s son, who was killed in a tragic hit-and-run incident in 2022.
Yannick Alléno, the Michelin-starred chef behind Monaco’s Pavyllon Monte-Carlo and L’Abysse, has known great heartbreak. His life changed in May 2022, when a hit-and-run driver killed his 24-year-old son, Antoine, a promising and aspiring young chef. Since then, Alléno has been fighting to prevent similar tragedies from happening through brave awareness campaigns and the Antoine Alléno Association.
His latest initiative, created in collaboration with the Fondation Renault, is entitled Impact. It seeks to harness technology to reduce road fatalities, particularly those caused by alcohol and drug use. A competition, open since May 2024, has invited start-ups to propose innovative concepts that could help with this aim, from airbag-equipped jeans for motorcyclists to brain sensors that can detect drowsiness in drivers. The winners are set to be announced at the VivaTech conference and trade show in June.
In a statement explaining its purpose, the Impact team notes that the initiative is “designed above all to raise awareness among young people, the primary population affected [by road violence].”
The statement continues, “Impact innovatively exploits all awareness vectors, from immersive technologies and virtual reality to artistic performances—strong and engaging actions to make prevention rhyme with action.”
Beyond this new initiative, the Antoine Alléno Association will continue its support for families of road violence victims. Since its inception, it has assisted over a hundred individuals. Meanwhile, the Fondation Renault is also working on fire suppression technology for electric vehicles that will be made freely available to car manufacturers.
According to France’s Interior Ministry, 3,190 people died on the road in 2024, with 18 to 24-year-olds being the most affected demographic. Alléno, driven by personal tragedy, remains committed to legislative change.
At the 4th March event at Paris’ Pavillon Ledoyen, MP Eric Pauget, Deputy for the Alpes-Maritimes at the French National Assembly, reiterated the importance of resuming discussions on the road homicide bill, which had stalled after the dissolution of former French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government. The proposed law sought to redefine cases where intoxicated drivers had caused fatal accidents, treating the vehicle as a weapon and elevating charges beyond involuntary manslaughter.
To further the awareness angle, Impact will debut Fragiles, an immersive performance exploring the dangers of reckless driving from 11th March at the Trianon. It will feature artists like singer Gaëtan Roussel and Paris Opera dancer Takeru Coste.
For more information on Impact and the wider work of the Antoine Alléno Association, click here.
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Photo source: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer