WASHINGTON, D.C. — The fifth annual National Tire Safety Week will be held April 23 – 29, 2006, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA). The annual event is an initiative of RMA’s “Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART” program, which is designed to help drivers learn the simple steps they can take to ensure that their tires are in good working condition.
Participation in National Tire Safety Week has grown steadily since the first event in 2002. More than 12,000 tire and auto retail locations distributed RMA’s Be Tire Smart brochure. Additionally, many retailers incorporated National Tire Safety Week in advertising and promotions, held events to check motorists’ tire pressure for free, and promoted tire care and maintenance to local media. RMA research shows that 85 percent of U.S. drivers do not properly check tire pressure.
Partners in the Be Tire Smart program include tire retailers, auto dealers, safety advocates and state government agencies. Among the list of Be Tire Smart partners are: AAA, American Car Care Centers, Big 10 Tires, Belle Tire, Big O Tires, Discount Tire Co., Kaufman Tire, Les Schwab, Merchant’s Tire, National Tire and Battery (NTB), National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Northwest Tire, Peerless Tires, Pep Boys, ProCare Automotive Services, Tire Centers-LLC, Tire Factory, Tire Kingdom, Sears Automotive Centers, STS Tire and Auto Centers, Sullivan Tires, Town Fair Tires, VIP Parts, Tires and Service and many others.
“We continue to see a great deal of excitement and commitment among our partners to the Be Tire Smart safety messages,” said Dan Zielinski, RMA vice president, communications. “We try to be a catalyst to help our partners maximize their participation.”
Tire and auto retailers who are interested in obtaining free RMA materials for National Tire Safety Week can order them online at betiresmart.org. Those who have participated in the event before can expect to receive materials again this year.
Additionally, RMA is urging Be Tire Smart partners to contact local elected officials and seek their support for National Tire Safety Week by issuing a proclamation.
“State or local government proclamations can help raise awareness among consumers,” Zielinski said. “RMA can help retailers with this task with sample letters and draft proclamation language.”
The Be Tire Smart program is funded by RMA’s tire manufacturer members: Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., Continental Tire North America, Inc., Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Michelin North America, Pirelli North America, Inc. and Yokohama Tire Corp.
_______________________________________
Click here to view the rest of today’s headlines.
