For The Media


Finalists Selected In Bridgestone Americas Annual Safety Scholars Teen Driver Video Contest

Online voting begins today; grand prize winners receive a $5,000 scholarship, new tires and a chance for their videos to be turned into a TV Public Service Announcement.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 15, 2010) – We’ve all heard the warnings. Wear your seat belt. Don’t text and drive.  Keep your eyes on the road.  And still, car crashes are the leading cause of death and injury among 16- to 21-year-old drivers in the United States.  It’s important to deliver the messages in new and compelling ways. That’s the purpose of the Bridgestone Americas Safety Scholars video contest: empowering students to create driver safety videos that will make a difference and save lives. Now it’s up to the public to pick the scholarship winners by voting for their favorite videos in the online voting, which begins today.

A panel of judges selected the top 10 most compelling videos, which were chosen from 1,375 entries received by Bridgestone Americas from 16 to 21 year olds across the United States. Choices were made based on how well the videos compel viewers to be more safety-conscious drivers and how effectively and creatively the message was communicated.

The top 10 videos are now posted at safetyscholars.com.  The public can vote online through Aug. 5 to determine the three grand prize winners, who will be announced Aug. 17. Finalists’ videos are also available for viewing on social networking sites including Facebook, YouTube and MySpace.

“The passion and creativity displayed in these videos is so incredible that it makes the judges’ decisions very difficult,”  said Angela Patterson, digital media coordinator, Community and Corporate Relations, Bridgestone Americas, who also manages the company’s teen driver safety initiatives. “Safety Scholars once again proves to be an innovative campaign that empowers young drivers and allows us to demonstrate our commitment to safety behind the wheel.”

In addition to receiving a $5,000 college scholarship and a free set of Bridgestone brand tires, the grand prize winners have the chance to have their video used as a public service announcement (PSA) on television stations across the country. These PSAs are supported by Bridgestone Americas in cooperation with Driver’s Edge, an independent, non-profit hands-on safe driving course that’s offered free of charge to teens in select U.S. cities. The 2009 Safety Scholars PSAs have aired more than 13,000 times on TV and cable stations across the United States, reaching an audience of more than 51 million viewers.

In addition to Safety Scholars, Bridgestone Americas has invested in a number of innovative driving and tire safety education initiatives specifically targeted at young drivers. The Bridgestone brand serves as presenting national sponsor of Driver’s Edge. Bridgestone Americas has also aired a series of tire safety PSAs featuring Mario Andretti, legendary racer and Firestone spokesman. Most recently, the company created a new website — www.teensdrivesmart.com— to provide online resources to young people and their parents to help them become better, safer drivers.

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

Please visit http://www.safetyscholars.com for more information.


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