AAA TEAMS WITH TRAVEL CHANNEL’S NEWEST COMPETITION SERIES:

“AMERICA’S WORST DRIVER”

NEWS from AAA South Dakota, March 3, 2010 – AAA is collaborating with the Travel Channel as the safety partner on the network’s new reality travel competition series, “America’s Worst Driver,” premiering Sunday, March 14, at 9 p.m. CST. 

In the series, bad drivers from eight major American cities, nominated by friends and family, compete in various driving challenges to identify the worst local driver. Each challenge tests a driver’s ability to focus while dealing with distraction and stress. The participant named the worst driver from each city will watch as their car is destroyed before they move on to the finale, where “America’s Worst Driver” will be crowned.

Contestants in each city are monitored by off-duty police officers, who maintain safety and also penalize drivers for traffic violations. Poor driving earns negative points but good driving is rewarded with elimination from the program, which spares that driver’s car from being destroyed and earns various prizes.

“Reality-based TV programming is a fresh and potentially effective way to teach viewers how to be better and safer drivers,” said Mark Madeja, spokesman for AAA South Dakota. “AAA is especially pleased to be working with the Travel Channel on this project. Traffic collisions are a leading cause of death for South Dakotans – and most of these crashes are easily prevented.”

AAA’s national driver training expert, Dr. William Van Tassel, will offer quick rules for the road during short vignettes throughout the series. AAA will also offer online driver improvement courses to all contestants participating in the show. Viewers can find more in-depth information about safe driving on TravelChannel.com.

 “We are a nation of drivers – and there is no better way to see a city than by hitting the streets,” said Michael Klein, senior vice president, content for Travel Channel.  “That said, we aren’t always a nation of good drivers. ‘America’s Worst Driver’ takes an entertaining look at this serious issue, and partnering with AAA, whose commitment to promoting safe driving is unwavering, is the perfect complement to the series.”

About the Travel Channel 

The Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com) is a network and Web site that uses travel to inspire and entertain, and addresses the consumers’ urge to experience the world. The Travel Channel is the world’s leading travel media brand. The network is available in more than 95 million U.S. cable homes, and its Travel Channel HD simulcast is distributed to more than 17 million. The Web site averages more than 2 million unique users monthly, and its mobile content platform, Travel Channel GO, is a leading provider of quality mobile travel video and on-the-go information. Scripps Networks Interactive, which also owns and operates the Food Network (www.foodnetwork.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com) and Fine Living Network (www.fineliving.com), is the manager and general partner.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members (89,650  in South Dakota) with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA South Dakota can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

AAA news releases, high resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at AAA.com/news.

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