• Bridgestone extends its commitment to Road Safety Education Limited’s (RSE) flagship Ryda program into 2030.
• Together, Ryda and Bridgestone aim to reach more than 100,000 students per year by 2030.
• Continuation of the long-term partnership empowers more young drivers and their passengers to make smart decisions on the roads.

SYDNEY, New South Wales (4 September, 2025) — Bridgestone and its longstanding road safety education partner, Road Safety Education Limited (RSE), have a renewed commitment to steering future generations to safer roads with a five-year extension to the tyre brand’s long-term support of the Ryda program.

Ryda is RSE’s flagship program run throughout Australia and New Zealand. Through classroom learning, boosted by interactive and engaging workshops, Ryda aims to empower 16–18-year-old learners, drivers and passengers with the knowledge and tools to make safe choices on the roads.

Bridgestone has been a partner of RSE and the Ryda program since 2016, reaching more than 880,000 students from over 1110 schools since its inception. According to Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay, the increased commitment will support RSE in expanding its operations even further and reaching a greater number of students through Ryda.

“The benefit that the Ryda program has on young road users is undeniable and vital in ensuring our next generation of road users are adopting a safe mindset, especially in their first few years on the roads,” Mr Barclay said.

“Over the past nine years we have seen the impact that Ryda makes in communities and through our renewed, multi-year partnership, we’re committed to supporting the growth of the program so that Ryda can benefit even more young Australians and New Zealand students.

Ryda's unique, evidence-backed approach to road safety education sees the organisation work in collaboration with schools to integrate road safety within the regular school curriculum. The method of education implemented by Ryda supports and amplifies the core messages delivered, and behaviours learnt, during a Ryda workshop.

In the Ryda workshop, students investigate real crashes and their causes with survivors of road trauma, are given insight from law enforcement, as well as being challenged to understand their personal risk profiles and being provided with take practical steps to reduce them. The Ryda program empowers students to speak up and call out unsafe driving behaviours and practices amongst their peers.

Ryda’s workshops are facilitated by a mix of professionals and volunteers, with Bridgestone staff also supporting the program through volunteering opportunities.

“Our collaboration with Ryda is a true partnership providing shared value. Our own staff have benefited from volunteering to help support the program and see firsthand the impact the program has, and we’re committed to working with RSE strategically to support them through their next phase of growth,” Mr Barclay.

Ryda aims to reach more than 100,000 students per year by 2030 and says the continued investment and strategic support from Bridgestone will be a key element in reaching this milestone.

“We are very grateful for the continued support from Bridgestone towards our vision of creating communities free from road deaths and serious injuries. We know Ryda works; in communities where all the schools attend, we can see clear reductions in youth road trauma,” said Maria Lovelock, CEO of Road Safety Education Limited.

“Overwhelmingly, schools tell us the program should be compulsory, and they see the value in building it into their curriculum. This additional commitment and funding will ensure we can continue to subsidise schools and grow our impact.”

According to the program’s Australian Head of Delivery, John Elliot, the commitment from Bridgestone comes at a crucial time for road safety education.

“There has never been a greater need for our best practice road safety education programs than right now. Young people continue to be over-represented in our trauma statistics. Preventing and reducing not only deaths but serious injuries for this younger age group will have significant benefits for Australians and New Zealand communities,” Mr Elliot said.

The partnership with Ryda is one of the key road safety initiatives Bridgestone invests in each year, guided by Bridgestone’s Global Road Safety Program objectives. Over the past year, Bridgestone has contributed to more than 90 road safety initiatives throughout world.

Bridgestone’s emphasis on road safety education is underpinned by the values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which is how the company will realise its long-term, 2050 vision of providing social and customer value as a sustainable solutions company.

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About Road Safety Education Limited 

Road Safety Education Limited (RSE), a not for profit and registered charity, is the leading learning road safety education organisation for youth in New Zealand and Australia. Launched in 2001, over 880,000 senior high school students have attended RSE’s flagship programme – Ryda. In addition to Ryda, RSE NZ launched Drive Coach, a free community parent evening, designed to support whānau who are teaching their teenagers to drive in 2024.  Our programmes are evidence-based, professionally developed and delivered and supported by an Advisory Council of internationally renowned road safety and education experts.