Bridgestone hosts first Family Traffic Safety Park in Kanagawa

Bridgestone and the Japan Association for Traffic Safety Education and Promotion held the ‘Family Traffic Safety Park’ on September 26 at Ario Hashimoto in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. This event, held in cooperation with the Kanagawa Prefectural Police and JAF, marks the first time the program has been hosted in Kanagawa.

Former F1 racer Ukyo Katayama served as the honorary one-day chief of the Sagamihara North Police Station. During his address, Katayama emphasized the critical importance of wearing helmets, noting that they have saved his life during racing accidents. He also engaged with children through road sign quizzes.

The event featured various interactive exhibits designed to teach safety to both drivers and pedestrians. Participants could experience the physical difference in rolling resistance caused by varying tire pressures, learn about the dangers of using smartphones while walking via simulators, and observe demonstrations regarding the blind spots of large trucks and the risks of pedestrians stepping out from behind parked vehicles.