Liz Allison Teams With AutoVantage:
NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 22, 2007 - In 1886 when Karl Benz received the first patent for a gas-fueled car and Gottlieb Daimler created the first `four-wheeled automobile,' little did anyone know that these inventions would change the way we live, work and play forever.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2005 more than 241 million motor vehicles were registered in the United States (according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population in 2005 was an estimated 288 million). So while some people are using public transportation, riding bikes or walking, the majority of Americans still rely on some sort of automobile as their primary mode of transportation.

"Cars are an important part of many people's everyday lives and we rely on them more and more for guidance on the road," said Mike Wain, vice president of AutoVantage. "We don't just kick the tires when we purchase a car anymore. We look for features to keep the whole family comfortable and prepared for any situation."

AutoVantage spokesperson Liz Allison continued, "When used properly, many of these new technologies enhance the driving experience, but keeping your eye on the road should always be your No. 1 priority."

Today's cars still serve the basic need of getting us where we need to go, but now our vehicles are becoming more advanced than ever. Some people rely on their cars to give them directions through built-in GPS navigation systems, remedy a key being locked in the car by satellite assistance or make a phone call on the road with their vehicle's Bluetooth technology while keeping both hands on the steering wheel. In the case of the later, some states such as New York, Washington D.C. and New Jersey have gone so far as to ban or partially ban talking on the cell phone while driving unless the driver is using Bluetooth or other hands-free technology.
And the technology keeps advancing.
In the past few years, the automotive industry has developed equipment that not only keeps those in the car safe, but the people and things around you as well. Liz Allison offers these new technologies to consider when purchasing your next vehicle.

• Electronic Stability Control. ESC constantly monitors your car's brake performance through sensors. The sensors help determine if a driver is about to lose control of the vehicle and can make individual adjustments to each wheel that could prevent a car from spinning out of control. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, ESC could prevent nearly one-third of all fatal crashes and reduce rollover risk by as much as 80 percent! In 2006, ESC was standard on 40 percent of all passenger vehicle models and optional on another 15 percent. If you're looking into a new purchase, the IIHS claims that ESC as a stand-alone option costs between $300 to $800 - a small price for what could be a life-saving investment.


• Parking Assistance. For those of you with traces of foreign paints on your bumper or who dread parallel parking on city streets, parking assistance or even cars that park themselves may be for you. Lexus offers a new Advanced Parking Guidance System that does the work for you. Many vehicles offer parking assistance, which features ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear bumpers of your vehicle that help judge the distance between you and other cars or unseen objects. In some models like the BMW, the car simply beeps and continues to beep faster as you get closer to an object and becomes a constant tone when you are within 12 inches of it. In others like the Mercedes Benz, there is also a visual indicator on the dashboard and rear cabin ceiling that give a more accurate sense of proximity to the approaching object. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns in a recent report though that these sensor-based parking aids were poor in detecting pedestrians and children.  From their testing, they determined a camera-based system, available with several makes and models, has the greatest potential to detect people, though still not completely reliable. The best way to prevent a rollover is still checking behind your car before you move.


• Active safety. Imagine driving down the interstate on cruise control and your car automatically paces its self behind the upcoming car in front of you. Or your car automatically lowers its beams at night when an oncoming car approaches. What if your car had "night vision" and discreetly projected a holographic image on the lower part of your windshield showing potential obstacles on the side of the roadway outside your headlights' reach as you passed? What if your car alerted you when you were leaving your lane? Hopefully it's not too far off. At its recent "Electronics University" Siemens VDO rolled out a slew of future technologies like these that may help prevent accidents in the future and are already available on some luxury models.


• Eliminate human error. We've all wished our car had an "auto-pilot" button that would take us through the rest of our journey.  But this isn't too far from reality. Surprisingly, the first driverless car was developed in the 1980s by Mercedes Benz. Today, groups like the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) attract some of the brightest minds in advanced car technology with the DARPA Urban Challenge (http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge) - a competition that puts autonomous ground vehicles through simulated military supply missions. In its third year, the event is moving into an urban environment where the vehicles will be required to merge into moving traffic, navigate traffic circles, negotiate busy intersections and avoid obstacles. With technology like this on the rise, it's anyone's guess how long it will be before your morning commute includes a power nap.


• Entertainment and convenience. Other devices exist solely for our enjoyment. The extremely popular Sirius and XM satellite radios allow drivers to listen to their favorite music or radio programming uninterrupted across the entire U.S. In some models, you can now also directly connect your IPod or other Mp3 player into your stereo system through an auxiliary jack. And if it's a long trip with the kids, many cars now feature integrated DVD systems with multiple screens and surround sound quality audio to keep even the youngest passengers pacified.

Today's technology continues to revolutionize our daily lives. You can now buy a portable GPS system that can be used in whatever car you're driving or on a hike as well. And cell phones are starting to provide maps and driving directions right on your handheld. In time, many of these technologies may provide some solutions to making our roadways a safer place for all, but there will never be a replacement for using caution and good judgment every time you get into the driver's seat. So remember:

• Always wear your seatbelt. As cautious as you may be, you can not control other drivers and variables on the roadway.


• Keep your car in good maintenance. Maintain a consistent schedule of maintenance and prevent pricey trips to the auto repair shop and breakdowns on the road.


• And stay cautious. With all the new technologies available to help us in the car, it's important to remember to keep your focus on the road, not the gadget. Pull over if you need to adjust a route on your GPS, take a phone call or do any other task that keeps driving from being your number one priority.

Liz Allison, a spokesperson for AutoVantage, is a NASCAR TV personality, radio host and best-selling author. She has served as a racing analyst for TNT, CNNSI, TNN, CNN, ESPN and ESPN2. Allison has appeared on NBC's "Today Show," CNN, Fox and Friends, ESPN, MSNBC, Fox News Weekend Live and the Speed Channel. She is host of the No. 1 NASCAR radio show in Nashville, called "The Drivers Zone," on WGFX-FM. Allison is also host and track announcer for the Nashville Superspeedway. She is the best-selling author of "The Girl's Guide to NASCAR" - and has written two sequels for Time Warner Books, the first to be released September 6, 2007. Allison has written three NASCAR Harlequin Romance novels, the first slated for November 2007 publication. She has penned articles for USA Today, NASCAR Scene, NASCAR Illustrated, NASCAR.com, MSN.com and FoxSports.com.

About AutoVantage
Members of AutoVantage (http://www.autovantage.com/ or 1-800-876-7787) can save from 5 to 20 percent on car care at some 19,000 service locations, including participating AAMCO, Jiffy Lube, Meineke and American Car Care Center locations. AutoVantage also offers 24-hour nationwide emergency towing, roadside assistance, and lockout protection from its network of more than 10,000 emergency roadside assistance providers. Trip routing for maps and door-to-door driving directions across the U.S. are also included. AutoVantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.

About Affinion Group
Affinion Group, www.affiniongroup.com, is a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers. With more than 30 years of experience, Affinion Group currently offers its programs and services worldwide through more than 5,200 affinity partners. Its diversified base of affinity partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. Affinion Group also has a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs. Based in Norwalk, Conn., Affinion Group has approximately 3,000 employees throughout the United States and in 14 countries across Europe. 

About Affinion Group
As a global leader with almost 40 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing loyalty solutions. Leveraging its expertise in customer engagement, product development and targeted marketing, Affinion provides programs in subscription-based lifestyle services, personal protection, insurance and other areas to help generate increased customer loyalty and significant incremental revenue for more than 5,550 marketing partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Stamford, Conn., the company has approximately 4,250 employees and markets in 17 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.

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