'Ride Safe Tour' Virtual-Reality Automotive Experience to Visit Seattle Area May 27-30

Free Consumer Driving Safety Experience to Make 3 Local Stops

SEATTLE, May 22 -- The Monroe Ride Safe Tour, a multi- million-dollar interactive driving safety experience that will visit more than 150 North American markets this year, will make three high-profile stops in the Seattle area beginning Tuesday, May 27.

Featuring sophisticated electronic driving simulators, a highly realistic, full-size vehicle rollover simulator, interactive "Vehicle Knowledge Center" kiosks and a broad range of hands-on educational experiences, the Ride Safe Tour is designed to encourage consumers to protect their driving safety through periodic inspections and maintenance of the components that determine vehicle steering, stopping and stability characteristics.

"The Ride Safe Tour is a fascinating and fun opportunity for consumers to learn about the automotive systems that help protect their safety and the safety of their passengers," said Richard Alameddine, vice president of marketing for Tenneco Automotive, manufacturer and marketer of Monroe products. "Community members will be able to experience both the precision and excitement of modern, well-maintained ride control technologies and the challenges and dangers of relying on worn or damaged chassis components."

The free Ride Safe Tour experience, which enables consumers to enhance their understanding of key vehicle maintenance and safety issues, will be open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at Schuck's Auto Supply, 222 A Street SE, Auburn and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 30, at the Northwest Automotive Industry Trade Show, 110 9th Avenue SW, Puyallup. The Ride Safe Tour also is available to Kentlake High School students Tuesday, May 27 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will be able to experience specific driving safety demonstrations aimed at young drivers. Kentlake High School is located at 21401 SE 300th Street in Kent.

The Ride Safe Tour is the first comprehensive mobile consumer education experience focusing on vehicle ride control technologies. These technologies, known collectively as the "Safety Triangle," include the interdependent components -- such as tires, brakes, shocks and struts -- that help determine a vehicle's steering, stopping and stability characteristics.

The presence of just one 50-percent degraded shock absorber on a vehicle can increase required 60-to-0 mph stopping distance by an average of 10 feet when compared to the same vehicle equipped with four fully functional shocks, according to research certified by the United States Auto Club.(1) Handling tests show that vehicles with four properly operating shock absorbers provide better steering and stability performance than those equipped with at least one worn shock.(2)

For more information on the Monroe Ride Safe Tour, visit www.ridesafetour.com .

   (1) Tests performed on a dry, bumpy surface, comparing top selling
       vehicles equipped with Monroe Sensa-Trac shock absorbers and same
       vehicles equipped with three new and one 50% degraded OE shock.
       Results may vary by vehicle, driver ability and driving conditions.
   (2) Tests performed over 236-foot-long dry surface with obstacle cone
       placed 88 feet down track. Course featured 28 test bumps. Vehicles
       tested included three popular passenger car models, two light trucks
       and two SUVs. Results may vary by vehicle, driver ability and driving
       conditions.