- Leading tyre company, Bridgestone, commits to multi-year partnership extension with Road Safety Education Ltd's flagship RYDA program.
- Long-term, valued partnership continues to empower young drivers and passengers to make smart decisions on the roads.
- RYDA expected to reach more than 120,000 students between now and 2025 through more than 1,200 workshop days and online initiatives.
- Bridgestone's continued support of the RYDA program is underpinned by the Bridgestone E8 Commitment.
SYDNEY, New South Wales (2 August, 2022) – Australia and New Zealand's most trusted tyre brand has renewed its commitment to the RYDA program, refreshing its continuing partnership with by way of a multi-year partnership extension with Road Safety Education Ltd (RSE).
Bridgestone has supported the RYDA program since 2016 to drive positive road safety in Australia through the education and empowerment of 16–18-year-olds, utilsing RSE's proven formula of interactive workshops and complementary education materials.
This partnership extension will help RYDA reach a further 120,000 students between now and 2025 through the facilitation of more than 1,200 workshop days involving around 650 schools throughout the two countries.
Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay, says the RYDA partnership is critical for addressing road trauma and supporting safer mobility for the future.
"As a father, I can't stress enough how important the RYDA program is for road safety education, and the role it plays in engaging with young drivers and passengers to address the hazards on our roads, and the need for smart choices for the benefit of other road users," Mr Barclay said.
"Bridgestone's support of the RYDA program is on behalf of all of our customers and parents to help foster healthy attitudes within the next generation of road users so that they are empowered to see themselves as active and responsible road citizens."
RYDA's unique approach to road safety education sees the organisation work in collaboration with schools to integrate road safety education within the regular school curriculum to support and amplify the core messages and behaviours of the RYDA workshop day.
Across Australia and New Zealand, RYDA has reached more than 700,000 students since its inception 21 years ago.
According to Terry Birss, CEO & Managing Director of RYDA's parent organisation, Road Safety Education Ltd, Bridgestone's continued commitment to the program highlight's the company's commitment to the future.
"We're delighted to continue working with Bridgestone and to have their ongoing support in working towards a common goal of saving lives. Bridgestone's ongoing support helps us sustain the delivery of our life saving messages to schools who increasingly rely on RYDA across Australia and New Zealand," Mr Birss said.
"With road trauma costing society approximately $37 billion annually, supporting evidence-based interventions like RYDA is an investment in a safer future, and we're thrilled that Bridgestone sees road safety education as an ongoing priority."
Bridgestone's continued investment in RYDA is a key activity within Australia and New Zealand as part of the company's global Bridgestone E8 Commitment.
The Bridgestone E8 Commitment is how the company will realise its long-term, 2050 vision of providing social and customer value as a sustainable solutions company through the values of: energy, ecology, efficiency, extension, economy, emotion, ease and empowerment.
As part of the RYDA program, students participate in a workshop which features a series of sessions led by expert facilitators who address laws, distractions, risk management, social resilience, speed & stopping, peripheral vision, and other critical road safety topics.
"RYDA is a powerful initiative in empowering youth, but also providing peace of mind and ease for parents, as well as supporting non-stop innovation within the mobility sector, and this is how the program aligns to the values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment," Mr Barclay added.
"The RYDA program sets the benchmark for education and empowerment in road safety, and that's why Bridgestone passionately supports this initiative."
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About Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand:
Bridgestone is a global leader in tyres and rubber, and is building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. In Australasia, Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand. offers a range of services and solutions to all segments of the Australian market to deliver social value and customer value. Bridgestone’s extensive range of quality tyres is complemented by the provision of mechanical and fleet services through the company’s nationwide retail network of Bridgestone Select, Bridgestone Service Centres and Bridgestone Tyre Centres, mobile service provider Lube Mobile, and the manufacturing and sale of quality retreads through Bandag Pty Limited. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tyres and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
