Statement by Christine Karbowiak
Vice President, Public Affairs, Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
September 6, 2000
The following statement was released today
by Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., in response to Congressional
hearings relating to the voluntary safety recall of Radial ATX
and Radial ATX II tires in the size P235/75 R15 made in North
America and Wilderness AT tires of the same size made at the
company’s Decatur, Illinois plant.
“Bridgestone/Firestone’s top
management has traveled to Washington to meet with Members of
Congress to update them about our progress on the voluntary
tire recall and also to outline for them our path forward.
The company is anxious to answer all questions relating to this
situation as we continue our work with members of Congress,
NHTSA and Ford.
“Today, Bridgestone/Firestone Chairman,
Mr. Masatoshi Ono, outlined the steps that we are taking at
this time.
“First,
we are doing everything we can to get
the tires off the road as quickly as possible;
“Second,
we are appointing an outside, independent
investigator to assist in our analysis and determine the root
cause of the problem;
“Third,
we are accelerating the rollout of
a nationwide consumer education program on tire maintenance;
“Finally,
we pledge to continue working with NHTSA
toward developing early understandings and complete reporting
of accidents and developing approaches that make it easier
for drivers to determine tire pressure.
“We are doing everything we can
to protect the safety of our customers and to restore the public’s
confidence in the Firestone brand.”
