Whether we realize it or not, we do something on a daily basis that creates a safer environment for ourselves and the people around us. Each of us takes measured steps to stay safe. Maybe it¹s putting on a mask before entering the paint booth at work, enabling traction control during inclement weather or securely buckling the kids in their car seats.

Colleagues in and around the industry agree that safety remains incredibly important and must continue to be analyzed. This concern is reflected in this edition of CCC UpFront, which provides a look at the past, present and future of auto safety.

Looking at it from a historical perspective, driving an automobile that is not equipped with something like seatbelts seems, at best, like an incredibly risky proposition. It is hard to imagine, but it took a lot of research and buy-in to get seatbelts put into autos. As you will read in the following pages, such a simple thing as buckling up has resulted in countless saved lives and visits to the hospital. The same can be said for airbags.

So, what will be the next step in safety? Maybe it hasn¹t been developed or is in its infancy. But with technology serving as the catalyst for industry innovation, the potential exists for something new to come to the fore something on par with seatbelts and airbags.

One thing is for sure: In the pursuit of safety, each innovation is born out of accurate data. With this in hand, the data serves as a guide to make a safer vehicle and, ultimately, a safer environment. We hope that reading the following articles will keep you thinking about safety and build on the momentum we as an industry have helped to create.

Here's to an increasingly safe summer.

Githesh Ramamurthy
Chairman and CEO