Velocity Joins Forces With MADD For Drive Smart, A National Advocacy Campaign To Help Stop Drunk, Drugged And Distracted Driving

SILVER SPRING, Md., June 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Velocity announced the creation of Drive Smart, a national advocacy campaign encouraging and raising awareness for safe driving practices. Joining forces with Mothers Against Drunk Driving^® (MADD) and TeenDrive365: In School, Drive Smart is intended to help save lives by stopping drunk, drugged and distracted driving through a mix of partner initiatives, on-air messages, online content, social media outreach and consumer facing events.

Video – Drive Smart PSA: https://youtu.be/LgSuIBBviwk 

"As America's most automotive and driver obsessed television network Drive Smart is our opportunity to use Velocity's powerful engine to impact positive change on the roads," said Robert Scanlon, General Manager of Velocity. "With the strong support of MADD, TeenDrive365: In School and Discovery Education we hope to persuade more people to keep themselves, their loved ones and their cars safer on the road."

Through VelocityDriveSmart.com the network is urging viewers to take the Drive Smart pledge: to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs; to drive free of distractions from phones, friends, food and more; and to protect themselves and loved ones. For every pledge received Velocity is committing a donation to MADD, whose mission is to end drunk driving, to help fight drugged driving, to support the victims of those violent crimes and to prevent underage drinking. Velocity is also the national media sponsor for Walk Like MADD^®, the organization's signature fundraising event used to raise awareness and funds to help eliminate drunk driving. Last year Walk Like MADD events raised nearly three million dollars to support MADD's community programs and victim services at no charge to victims and survivors of drunk and drugged driving crashes.

"Velocity's commitment to safer roads and saving lives is exactly the type of example we need more companies to follow," said Colleen Sheehey-Church, MADD National President, whose 18-year-old son was killed by a drunk and drugged driver. "MADD applauds Velocity's support and together we will create a future of No More Victims^TM."

In addition to MADD, Velocity is a proud supporter and key partner of TeenDrive365: In School, a comprehensive in-school program from Discovery Education and Toyota that is designed for high school students and educators to help teens avoid distractions and stay safe behind the wheel. One component of the program is the TeenDrive365 Video Challenge, which is now in its fourth year and encourages teens to put their messages about safe driving on camera to help save lives among their peers. To watch this year's winning videos, visit http://www.teendrive365inschool.com/teens/share-your-experience.

"Discovery Education is proud to support Velocity's Drive Smart campaign through our comprehensive TeenDrive365: In School initiative which addresses the need to keep students safe on the road," said Bill Goodwyn, President and CEO, Discovery Education. "By providing engaging digital resources and experiences that encourage smart choices behind the wheel, we hope to empower students nationwide to have open discussions with their peers on the critical issue of distracted driving and how to avoid it."

"It's more important than ever for parents and teachers to provide tools and resources that educate teens and empower them to make smart choices behind the wheel," said Sara Badiner, high school teacher in Michigan's Otsego Public Schools. "Thank you to Velocity, Toyota and Discovery Education for your commitment to providing students and schools across the country with creative and engaging programs that help inspire teens to drive safely and avoid distractions."

According to the most recent data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,154 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2013 and approximately 424,000 people were injured. NHTSA also reported that in 2013 10,076 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, an average of one fatality every 52 minutes, and another 290,000 people were injured. Alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities accounted for 31 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States (NHTSA). About 20 percent of drivers tested positive for at least one drug in 2014, up from 16.3 percent in 2007, and more than 15 percent of drivers tested positive for at least one illegal drug, up from 12 percent in 2007 (NHTSA).

Velocity's Drive Smart campaign aims to help lower those statistics and to help put an end to drunk, drugged and distracted driving. Velocity is currently airing Drive Smart spots on-air to raise awareness of the campaign among viewers. The promotional spots feature Chris Jacobs of OVERHAULIN', Dave Kindig of BITCHIN' RIDES and Cristy Lee of ALL GIRLS GARAGE asking viewers to get involved by signing the pledge and changing their driving behavior.

About Velocity
Velocity, a division of Discovery Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), is the only upscale men's cable network that focuses on thrilling automotive for its viewers. Velocity programming is diverse, intelligent and engaging; capturing the best of the human experience as told by the top experts in the field. Formerly HD Theater, the fully HD network is available in 63 million homes. For more information on Velocity, please visit Velocity.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/VelocityTV or on Twitter @Velocity.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind.  Available in over half of all U.S. schools and primary schools in England, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. For 30 years Discovery has been dedicated to satisfying curiosity and entertaining viewers with high-quality content through its global television brands, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Science and Turbo/Velocity, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery controls Eurosport, the leading pan-regional sports entertainment destination across Europe and Asia-Pacific. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

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