21st August 2007 - MAP Announces Inaugural Automotive Brake Safety Week For Consumers, Vehicle Service Providers

The non-profit Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) has announced that it will sponsor a weeklong nationwide consumer education and vehicle inspection campaign focusing on automotive brake system safety.

The nationwide MAP Brake Safety Awareness Week, scheduled for Aug. 26 - Sept. 1, 2007, is expected to involve thousands of participating automotive service locations that will offer free brake and related undercar inspections and distribute a variety of complimentary consumer-focused educational materials. All program content, including vehicle inspection and customer communication guidelines, promotional materials and consumer literature, is being developed by MAP and affiliated organizations.

Brake Safety Awareness Week 2007 will be supported through national radio advertising, public service announcements, point-of-sale materials, ad slicks for local use, and other promotional activities. Support materials will be available, in limited quantities, free of charge to MAP Participating service facilities and at a nominal fee to other service providers wishing to join the program.

“We envision this annual event being a valuable tool in enhancing the consumer’s understanding of the importance of periodic brake inspections and fostering their awareness of respected local automotive service providers,” said MAP President Larry Hecker. “Our member companies, like thousands of other aftermarket professionals across the U.S., believe service shops and motorists should be partners in promoting vehicle safety. This program represents a major step toward that goal.”

The MAP event is patterned after the successful Brake Safety Week initiative pioneered by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. That program – limited to over-the-road medium- and heavy-duty trucks in North America – was embraced by leading truck stop operators, government agencies and over-the-road carriers and has been expanded to include required brake safety checks.

For additional information concerning MAP Brake Safety Awareness Week 2007, please visit MAP online at www.motorist.org, or send an email to map@motorist.org.

About MAP

The Motorist Assurance Program was established in 1994 by a group of automotive service providers, manufacturers, associations and others who were concerned about the reputation of the automotive repair industry. MAP works to strengthen communication and trust between the industry and its customers. AMRA and MAP today have more than 100 active member businesses operating over 20,000 service facilities in North America.

Source: MAP Press Release