A third of cars in Ikea car park were not safe, says Bridgestone

Zaventem, Belgium -- As part of the global 'Think Before You Drive' safety campaign being conducted in cooperation with the FIA Foundation, Bridgestone organised a three day safety check”- session on 4-6 November in the car park of IKEA at Zaventem, on the outskirts of Brussels.

A total of 837 vehicles or 3,348 tyres were inspected. Of these, 67% cars received an 'OK' rating, while 26% were advised to consult a tyre specialist for adjustment (pressure) or early replacement (tread depth or damage). A further 7 % were deemed to be in need of urgent attention.

Shoppers were offered free safety checks by 15 Bridgestone staff in 4 different bays, while in-store displays and animation underlined the importance of: seat belts, child seats, well-positioned head restraints and good tyre condition in minimising the risk of personal injury.

Linked to the Think Before You Drive” campaign was a charity initiative, where Bridgestone Europe donated €1 per car that was checked. On top of that, drivers could also contribute. In total, €1376 will be offered to the AZ Kinderen of the VUB hospital, Dienst Pediatrie.

This tyre checking event at Ikea was a part of a campaign which was kickstarted in Belgium, together with the RACB autoclub at the 24Hours of Francorchamps and GP F1 of Belgium earlier this year. More events will be held during 2006.