Orlando, Fla., May 19, 2009

AAA’s TripTik® Travel Planner identifies congested roads and helps motorists find less traveled routes  

Millions of Americans will take a road trip this summer. For many, the trip begins with excitement in anticipation of fun with friends and family. However these feelings can change to frustration and anger as abruptly as traffic flow stops on congested roadways. Using AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner to map a journey can keep the excitement and travel flowing by helping motorists select the best route and times of travel.

Motorists who use AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner to plan their route will be able to view historic congestion information. With this information, they can avoid peak times of congestion if an alternate route is not available or use a simple route modification tool to select less-traveled roads. The popular online mapping tool is available free to all travelers on AAA.com.

While travelers should generally expect traffic delays during morning and evening rush hours in major urban areas and seasonal traffic traveling to popular destinations, they can use the TripTik Travel Planner to see where they can expect congestion delays in more than 125 areas across North America. For example, motorists may encounter heavy summer-time traffic in areas across the country such as U.S. Route 1 to the Florida Keys, U.S 6 into Cape Cod, U.S. Route 26 from Portland, Ore., to coastal beach communities, around the Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. and to eastern shore points such as Ocean City, Md. and the Outer Banks in N.C.

Available congestion information on TripTik Travel Planner covers urban areas, as well as national parks and landmarks, popular summer weekend destinations and more. Travelers can better plan their itineraries with information messages such as: “expect congestion delays during morning and afternoon rush hours” and “expect congestion delays during summer months.” The TripTik Travel Planner also includes construction information as well as information on scenic roads across North America. Alerts are posted for highways with consistent traffic problems, areas with seasonal volume, and roadways with congestion due to tolls or security checks.

Other features available on TripTik Travel Planner include the capability to create custom maps, a travel guide section, and easy-to-use navigation and route modification tools. TripTik Travel Planner provides travelers 24/7 access to AAA’s proprietary travel information including AAA Diamond Ratings for more than 58,000 lodgings and restaurants, fuel prices at more than 100,000 U.S. gas stations, premier mapping information and hotel and car rental booking capabilities—everything needed to plan an entire trip, right from within the map.

Travelers will find the TripTik Travel Planner a useful tool whether they need quick maps and local driving directions or complete planning tools and destination information for cross-country road trips and fly/drive vacations.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.