Canada’s Worst Driver premieres Oct. 26 on Discovery

From a media release:

Put It in Park – It’s Safer to Just Stay Home!

• CANADA’S WORST DRIVER Hits the Road in Its Season 5 Premiere, Oct. 26 on Discovery Channel
• Series launch coincides with new Ontario Ministry of Transportation law banning the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving

On October 26, it’s probably best to leave your car in the driveway and just stay home. Why? With a whole new gang of motor-challenged participants, Discovery Channel revs up a brand new season of CANADA’S WORST DRIVER, premiering Monday, October 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The series launch coincides with the new Ontario Ministry of Transportation law banning the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving, which takes effect the same day. Research demonstrates a correlation between the use of such hand-held devices (dialing, texting or emailing) and a dramatically increased risk of being involved in a crash or a heart-pounding near-miss. A similar ban is already in place in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Nova Scotia; while a Manitoba and Saskatchewan are considering similar measures to decrease driver distraction.

But distracted driving is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to CANADA’S WORST DRIVER 5’s problem drivers. Featuring a punk rocker and a Roman Catholic priest among this season’s participants, the hit series features dangerous drivers on the road to rehabilitation. Eight disastrous drivers from across the country – each nominated by a friend, family member or colleague – are put through their paces in a controlled driving environment and evaluated by a panel of driving experts. Can their bad behind-the-wheel behaviours be curbed with expert coaching and a little cajoling? Watch as week by week, one driver will earn the right to return to the open highway, until there is only one unlucky driver left at the side of the road, owning the dubious title of Canada’s Worst Driver.

As Discovery Channel shifts into high gear for the launch of Season 5 of this runaway hit series (or is that “hit-and-run” series?), viewers can’t wait for CANADA’S WORST DRIVER to merge back onto Monday night’s must-see schedule. The first four seasons of CANADA’S WORST DRIVER ranked consistently among the Top 5 programs on Discovery Channel, and last year the 4th season was the #1 program on specialty television*. And just when you thought CANADA’S WORST DRIVER couldn’t get any better – or worse! – it does just that. Host Andrew Younghusband is back, with arguably the worst batch of drivers yet. Fasten your seatbelts – it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

To the secure the safety of unwitting drivers and pedestrians everywhere, CANADA’S WORST DRIVER 5 assembled a panel of driving experts who put these driving menaces through tests designed to improve their motor skills. After first confiscating their licenses, the experts corral these driving menaces and enrol them in a “crash course” at the Driver Rehabilitation Centre. Once there, the participants meet the team of experts, including: Philippe Létourneau, a professional high-performance driving instructor; Dr. Louisa Gembora, a race car driver and psychologist who will examine some of the issues behind the drivers’ horrible habits; and Cam Woolley, traffic expert and former OPP sergeant. And new to Season 5, Peter Mellon, an instructor with the Advanced Motoring Bureau (AMB), also joins the panel.

Before rehab, this “bumper” crop of participants was marked by everything from dangerous distraction and a fear of reversing to basic “rules of the road” ignorance and parking paralysis. The experts have their work cut out for them! Behind the wheel for Season 5, the participants are:

• Jojo, from Montreal, Quebec, admits to having damaged every one of her parents’ vehicles. Young and inexperienced, Jojo has had 13 accidents in two-and-half years. She is aggressive and distracted. So distracted in fact, that she’s managed to drive into a light post and two large planters, landing both herself and her passenger in the hospital.
• Mike, from Regina, SK, admits to over 24 minor hit-and-run accidents. He has a fear of reversing and until recently would have other people back up his car. He will not spend more than $300 on a car and has had 11 vehicles in the past 12 years. Mike feels bad driving is hereditary; it runs in his family.
• Crystal, from Windsor, ON, is a distracted driver; constantly on her Blackberry. She has been in 11 major accidents plus countless minor bumps and totalling $100K in damages. One accident alone cost her $15K. Crystal’s driving is so atrocious she was nominated by eight separate people.
• Jakob, from Charlottetown, PEI, is a punk rocker with a problem obeying basic traffic rules. He has damaged every one of his parents’ vehicles and been in 12 major accidents in nine years. Jakob drives the band to gigs around the east coast and the band feels he needs to start obeying the rules of the road. If Jakob loses his license, the music will stop.
• Melissa, from St John, NB, is a new driver. She has only had her license for 15 months. She struggles with parking, road signs, reversing, merging… and even driving forward! Melissa has never had any formal driving training and her lack of experience results in heated arguments when her husband is in the car.
• Arun, from Windsor, ON, learned to drive in India. He’s only been driving in Canada for a year-and-a-half and has difficulty understanding Canadian driving rules. Arun also has difficulty reversing, staying in his lane and parking in one spot. In short, any type of driving is a challenge for him.
• Angelina, from Sudbury, ON, is a hazard on the road. This “stay-at-home” girlfriend has difficulty reversing, parking, driving at night and simply staying focused while behind the wheel. Angelina is full of surprises.
• Father Giles, from Richmond, ON, is a slow and overly-cautious driver. This Roman Catholic priest cannot judge distances, drives well below the speed limit at all times and takes an ungodly amount of time to park. Father Giles gives a whole new meaning to the term “Sunday Driver.”

Highlights from the first episodes of CANADA’S WORST DRIVER 5 include:

CANADA’S WORST DRIVER 5: “Basic Training”

Mon., Oct. 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Eight of the country’s most appalling drivers and their nominators begin their remedial treatment process by first driving to The Rehab Centre, situated at an undisclosed Ontario military location. Basic Training starts with a Basic Assessment Challenge, revealing a dreadful lack of even the most fundamental driving abilities in all of the candidates. The experts consider this bunch to be the worst group of drivers ever sentenced to CWD Rehab – the collision course is set and it’s anybody’s as to who will ultimately be branded Canada’s Worst Driver.

CANADA’S WORST DRIVER 5: “Standard Manoeuvres”

Mon., Nov. 2 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

In this episode, the dreadful drivers must use the eyes in the back of their heads. Their mission: to “shoulder check” successfully without causing a crash. The Basic Training continues as the eight hazardous drivers undergo a medical evaluation to check eyesight, reflexes and mental agility. Later, the pressure mounts as the drivers attempt to drive and parallel park a stick shift vehicle in an off-road course – without stalling. Finally, they take on the infamous Reverse Figure 8 challenge, only this year they will be driving ALL their fellow participants around in a limousine. One driver graduates after showing significant improvement and other experts continue to watch closely to determine who will be Canada’s Worst Driver.

Want to catch CANADA’S WORST DRIVER 5 on the go? In a Discovery Channel Canada first, episodes will be available for sale on iTunes for $1.99, the day after each broadcast premiere (beginning Oct. 27). For even more of the CANADA’S WORST DRIVER 5 experience, visit Worstdriver.ca for exclusive interactive content. Additional bonus material and full episodes will also be available on Worstdriver.ca. Think you can do better than the series’ drivers? Prove it by taking a new road signs quiz. In addition to bios, photo galleries and episode recaps, the website will also feature exclusive interviews with Yonghusband and the series’ experts; clips highlighting the most outrageous moments in CWD history, audition footage and car-cam confessionals; and the popular Exhaust Pipe forum. Follow CANADA’S WORST DRIVER 5 on Twitter at twitter.com/discoverycanada for exclusive tweets from some of the series participants.