CHICAGO, Ill. (Feb. 8, 2007) – Driver’s Edge, an innovative non-profit teen driver safety program, announced today that for the 5th straight year Bridgestone Americas will serve as presenting partner of the Driver’s Edge National Tour. Bridgestone Americas has also committed to extend its partnership with Driver’s Edge for another three years. The announcements were made today at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show.

“Motor vehicle collisions kill more teens every year than drugs, guns and violent crimes combined, yet conventional driver’s education in America continues to teach young drivers only the most basic of driving skills and then sends them out on the roads,” said Jeff Payne, president and founder of Driver’s Edge. “To help make the roads safer and to better educate these young drivers we need to take their training to the next level— use a different approach—and that’s what Driver’s Edge is about.”

Driver’s Edge was specifically developed to help address the high number of youthrelated automobile collisions and fatalities that occur annually throughout the United States. The nationally recognized program, taught by professional racecar drivers and performance driving instructors, will travel to 17 U.S. cities in 2007 to offer young drivers free classroom and behind-the-wheel accident avoidance instruction. The fifth annual Driver’s Edge National Tour kicks off April 14, 2007 in San Diego, California.

Over 30,000 young drivers and their parents have already participated in the free, halfday Driver’s Edge program. “Comparable teen driver programs can charge up to $450, but with the help of partners like Bridgestone Americas, we’re able to keep Driver’s Edge available at no charge to participants in order to reach more people,” said Steven Tepper, chief operating officer of Driver’s Edge. “This kind of instruction needs to be available to everyone, not just those who can afford it.”

“With the help of Bridgestone Americas, we’ve gone from a small Nevada non-profit organization to a significant national initiative. We’re proud to be a part of the Bridgestone Americas family and we’re thrilled to announce another long-term partnership with them,” Payne said.

“We want to do everything we can to equip young drivers with the experience and skills they need to stay safe out on the road,” said Mark A. Emkes, Chairman and CEO, Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC. “Supporting programs like Driver’s Edge as well as making safety education materials accessible to students across the country is an important priority for us. We ‘re committed to working with effective programs like Driver’s Edge which are saving lives and making our roads safe for everyone,” Emkes concluded.

Typically offered twice a day, each Driver’s Edge session educates approximately 75 to 100 students. The students’ parents are encouraged to attend and observe as well.

The program includes, among other components, the following elements:

Driver’s Edge events will be offered in the following cities this year: San Diego, Calif.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas; Greensboro, N.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; Nashville, Tenn.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Richmond, Va.; Detroit, Mich.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Chicago, Ill.; Pittsburgh, Penn.; Tampa, Fl.; Charlotte, N.C.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Reno, Nev.

Young drivers, aged 15 to 21, possessing a valid learner’s permit or license must register in advance for the program either by phone at 1-877-633-EDGE (3343), or online at www.driversedge.org.

Driver’s Edge is sponsored in the interest of public safety by Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, and BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC, subsidiaries of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.