AAA CALLS FOR NOMINATIONS FOR “SOUTH DAKOTA’S WORST DRIVER”

AAA South Dakota’s online contest is a tie-in to the Travel Channel’s

new “America’s Worst Driver” television series.

NEWS from AAA South Dakota, March 22, 2010 – AAA is asking for nominations for “South Dakota’s worst driver.” Weekly winners will receive a new or renewal AAA membership – and the driver they nominate will win free admission to AAA South Dakota’s online driver improvement program, “I Drive Safely”.

“It’s a fun way to point out the fact that maybe we all aren’t the great drivers we think we are,” said Mark Madeja, spokesman for AAA South Dakota. “Who better to break the news than a friend or loved one?”

Visitors to www.AAA.com can click the button on the right side of the home page to find the nomination form, where they can describe in 100 words or less why their nominee is the worst driver in South Dakota. One winning entry will be drawn from all those submitted each week during the run of the TV show, through May 9. The contest is free to enter and open to AAA members and non-members alike.

The Travel Channel’s new reality travel competition series, “America’s Worst Driver,” airs Sunday evenings at 9 p.m., CDT. 

On the television show, 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, when “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 prizes for the drivers.

“Traffic collisions are a leading cause of death for South Dakotans,” said Madeja, spokesman for AAA South Dakota. “We hope the TV show and our local online tie-in contest will raise awareness and bring home the fact that we all can be doing a lot more to reduce our risk on the road.”

AAA’s national driver training expert, Dr. William Van Tassel, will offer quick rules for the road during short vignettes throughout the television series, and viewers can find in-depth advice on safe driving techniques at TravelChannel.com.

For more information and to enter AAA’s “South Dakota’s Worst Driver” contest, visit www.AAA.com or call the AAA South Dakota’s Public Affairs office at

(605) 221-1624.