Bridgestone Firestone Teen Video Contest Promotes Safety

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC,(BFNT) is asking America’s teens to help promote auto safety. The company today launched the second annual 2008 Safety Scholars Video Contest, which includes a chance for young filmmakers to have their auto safety videos broadcast as public service announcements. Winners will also receive $5,000 college scholarships and a new set of Bridgestone tires.

“Car crashes claim the lives of more 16- to 21-year-olds than any other cause, so safety education is a priority,” said Christine Karbowiak, Vice President of Public Affairs, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. “Last year, we challenged young people to create videos about auto and tire safety, and the entries exemplified the talent and passion of our nation’s youth.”

The Rules:

• Videos must be 25 or 55 seconds.
• 300 video entries will be accepted May 27–June 24 at SafetyScholars.com.
• Winners will be selected by a panel of judges based on creativity and a compelling message.
• Participants must be 16-21 years old and legal residents of the United States/District of Columbia.
• Contestants must possess a valid driver’s license and be currently enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited secondary, college level or trade school.
• Official rules, entry, eligibility and prize details are available on SafetyScholars.com.

The Results:

Grand prize-winning videos will be announced on Aug. 8 at SafetyScholars.com. Winning entries will be posted on TireSafety.com, SafetyScholars.com and other websites including YouTube.com and MySpace.com.

The Safety Scholars Contest is just one way Bridgestone Firestone invests in innovative safety education. Bridgestone is the presenting national sponsor of Driver’s Edge, a hands-on, free teen driving course. The company has also aired a series of tire safety announcements featuring legendary racer Mario Andretti and has distributed more than 30,000 M.A.R.I.O’s safety booklets to American teens.

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:

Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.