What Road Rules? Andrew Younghusband Navigates the World’s Worst Driving Cities When DON’T DRIVE HERE Premieres June 17

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/14Nj0CS

TORONTO (May 21, 2013) – After nearly a decade behind the wheel of Discovery’s CANADA’S WORST DRIVER, Andrew Younghusband really thought he’d experienced the worst-case driving scenarios ever. Terrible drivers are one thing — and they’re everywhere – but what happens on the roads in the most challenging and congested urban centres on the planet? Premiering Monday, June 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery, DON’T DRIVE HERE finds Younghusband on a terrifying and thrilling global adventure, tasked with learning to navigate six of the world’s worst driving cities – just as the locals do. Way outside of his comfort zone, Younghusband steers around unbelievable free-for-alls involving cars, bikes, pedestrians – and even animals – on white-knuckle rides in these incredible cities. But he’s not alone. Bold and often incredibly skilled, Younghusband’s local guides teach him how to navigate and experience the city in a way no guidebook ever could. 

Host Andrew Younghusband (centre), learns to get around the world’s least drivable cities, with a little help from local driving pros, when DON’T DRIVE HERE premieres June 17 on Discovery

Younghusband,  who’s become an expert on terrible Canadian drivers, is about to experience disastrous driving on an epic, global scale. But this time, he’s not coaching the worst-of-the worse from the sidelines. Now, Younghusband buckles up (when possible) and shifts into gear to learn the local road “rules.” Under pressure and on camera, Younghusband’s own skills are put to the test in the heart of each new pulsing metropolis: New Delhi, India; Bangkok, Thailand; Manila, Philippines; Mexico City, Mexico; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; and Lima, Peru.

How bad can it be? Younghusband discovers that in India, lane driving is seen as an odd “Western” thing to do. In Bangkok, it can take two hours to travel less than one kilometre. In Manila, traffic officers are trained in martial arts. There are no driving tests in Mexico City. Only a quarter of the roads in Ulaanbaatar are paved. And in Lima, 70% of the city’s public transportation vehicles are on the roads with counterfeit certificates from inspection centres. Younghusband  knows all about terrible driving, but have eight seasons of CANADA’S WORST DRIVER really prepared him for all of this?

In each one-hour episode, Younghusband meets resident traffic experts to find out why driving in each city is so perilous in the first place. Taxi drivers, truckers, driving enforcement officers, and just average Joes show Younghusband how to navigate and survive their city’s unique and formidable traffic chaos. From picking up taxi fares, to making deliveries, to navigating one of the narrowest markets in Asia, Younghusband steers his way around the most daunting traffic in the world.  In just one week, Younghusband takes what he’s learned from the streets and challenges a local professional to a driving competition.

Highlights from the first episodes of DON’T DRIVE HERE include:

DON’T DRIVE HERE: “New Delhi”

Mon., June 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

New Delhi is home to breathtaking architecture, delicious food, and…well, the world’s highest rate of traffic accidents. The chaotic streets are virtually lawless, filled with cars, cows, tuk tuks, motorcycles, and even the odd camel. Host Andrew Younghusband gets a crash course in veering and dodging from perhaps India’s most-fearless taxi driver, who pushes Younghusband to drive into any available space – even if it’s on the wrong side of the road! His next challenge is to chauffeur a Delhi family through pencil-thin, packed streets…in their pristine brand-new car – because they’re too scared to drive it themselves!  Finally, Younghusband’s nerves get pushed to the limit as he drives a rickety truck on India’s deadliest highway, dodging traffic that drives on the wrong side of the road!

DON’T DRIVE HERE: “Bangkok”

Mon., June 24 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

It may be the backpacker’s must-see, but travellers to the “Venice of the East” really shouldn’t drive. Really. The streets are teeming with seven million vehicles – and 1,200 new ones join the roads daily. Host Andrew Younghusband is introduced to the madness by a Hollywood stuntman, and signs on for a whirlwind ride and a daring lesson on how to really move in this city. Then it’s on to three wheels as he learns how to drive a tuk tuk around streets that were formerly canals. Next, Younghusband learns how exciting and frustrating it is to drive an ambulance in gridlock – during a real emergency call.  And, finally, Younghusband learns the hard way what it’s like to crash a bike on a packed inner-city road.

The DON’T DRIVE HERE experience continues at Discovery.ca with exclusive video content, including extended scenes, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage.  Online, viewers will also find city stats and factoids, photo galleries, episode information, plus a social space to share their own incredible international driving stories.

DON’T DRIVE HERE is an original format for Discovery Canada by Toronto-based Proper Television. The series is executive produced by Guy O’Sullivan and Jennifer Scott, Derek Miller is the series producer, and Ian MacDonald is the series director.

About Discovery:

The world is just awesome! With compelling real-life programming that inspires and entertains, Discovery reveals the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. Discovery offers a signature mix of adrenaline-charged stories, larger-than-life personalities and vivid imagery for viewers with curious minds. With the best non-fiction programming from Canada and around the world, Discovery captures the excitement of a passion for life – one lived fully and at its most extreme. With exceptional and immersive storytelling, the channel offers in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the extraordinary people and places that shape our world. Launched in Canada in 1995, Discovery is now available in more than eight million Canadian homes. Discovery is offered in standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) simulcast – for viewers who want an even bigger and bolder experience. Discovery Canada is a joint venture between Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company, and Discovery Communications Inc. Find more information and interactive online features at Discovery.ca.

-DISCOVERY-

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Discovery Canada on Facebook:                               facebook.com/discoverycanada

Discovery Canada on Twitter:                                    twitter.com/DiscoveryCanada

For more information:                                                                                                                     

Jodi Cook, Discovery, 416.384.4603 or jodi.cook@bellmedia.ca

Noah Zatzman, Discovery, 416.384.5903 or noah.zatzman@bellmedia.ca

Mary-Catherine Snelgrove, for Proper Television, 416.598.2500×485 or msnelgrove@propertelevision.com