Everything about American Automobile Association totally explained
The
AAA (usually read
triple-A), formerly known as the
American Automobile Association, is an
American not-for-profit automobile lobby group,
service organization, and seller of
vehicle insurance. National
headquarters are in
Heathrow, Florida.
History
The American Automobile Association was founded on
March 4,
1902 in
Cleveland,
Ohio as a response to a lack of roads and highways suitable for autos. The organization originally had 1000 charter members, and these original members were generally of an auto enthusiast demographic. AAA’s membership base is and was formed from a number of local and regional
motor clubs, and these auto clubs combined forces to create a more powerful organization.
The association expanded its scope of services as years progressed. The first AAA road maps were published in 1905, and AAA began printing hotel guides in 1917. AAA began its School Safety Patrol Program in 1920, and many
driver safety programs followed in the decades to come. The
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which conducts a large volume of studies regarding motorist safety, was established as separate entity in 1947.
AAA was a sanctioning organization for
automobile racing in the United States until 1956. It sanctioned many races, including the
Indianapolis 500. After the
Le Mans 1955 disaster, AAA decided that auto racing distracted from its primary goals, and the
United States Automobile Club was formed to take over the race sanctioning/officiating.
Current operations
California State Automobile Association, the Automobile Club of Southern California, AAA Oregon/Idaho, or Auto Club South, for example) and the clubs in turn own AAA. The member clubs have arranged a reciprocal service system so that members of any participating club are able to receive member services from any other affiliate club. Member dues finance all club services as well as the operations of the national organization.
From the standpoint of the consumer, AAA clubs primarily provide
emergency road services to members. These services, which include everything from lockouts, winching, tire changes, automotive first aid, and
towing, are handled by private local towing companies contracted by a state AAA club. Many AAA clubs have an automotive fleet division serving large metro areas, while private towing companies cover the surplus call volume by area. Recently, certain clubs have implemented an "on the go" diagnostic/installation automotive battery program, which offers members an additional service to an ever more demanding commute. This is part of AAA's vision for the future of automotive services, termed
Go, not Tow. Clubs also distribute road maps and travel publications, and rate restaurants and hotels according to a "diamond" scale (one to five). The best hotels and restaurants according to AAA's criteria receive the
Five Diamond Award. Many offices sell automobile liability insurance, provide travel agency, auto-registration and notary services. AAA also offers member discounts at over 100 partners including many hotels,
Amtrak,
Hertz rental cars,
Jiffy Lube,
LensCrafters, and
Payless ShoeSource through its "Show Your Card & Save" program.
International affiliates
The AAA has reciprocal arrangements with a range of international affiliates. In general, members of affiliates are offered the same benefits as members of the AAA while traveling in the United States, whilst AAA members are offered equivalent benefits whilst traveling in the territory of the affiliate.
International affiliates include:
AAA and motorist rights
The AAA has a mixed record with its support of motorist rights.
The AAA is known for occasional high profile motorist advisories of unreasonable traffic enforcement, such as when it rented a billboard to warn motorists of the
speed trap town of
Lawtey, Fl.
However, the AAA has taken positions contrary to motorist rights. Prominent examples include:
Support of the old 55 mph National Maximum Speed Law
Support of Virginia's now-repealed traffic citation tax because of its revenue generation potential.
In many states, the mere presence of a ticket on driver's record allows a provider of automobile insurance to charge higher rates regardless of actual risk, if any, posed by the actual violation. Therefore, as a major provider of automobile insurance, the AAA has a fiduciary interest in supporting policies or practices that maximize motorist citations.
AAA and the environment
Criticism
AAA's lobbying positions are perceived by some as hostile to mass transit and environmental interests. Daniel Becker, director of Sierra Club's global warming and energy program, described AAA as "a lobbyist for more roads, more pollution, and more gas guzzling." He observed that among other lobbying activities, AAA issued a press release critical of the Clean Air Act, stating that it would "threaten the personal mobility of millions of Americans and jeopardize needed funds for new highway construction and safety improvements." "The club spent years battling stricter vehicle-emissions standards in Maryland, whose air, because of emissions and pollution from states upwind, is among the nation's worst."
Response
In response to these perceptions, several competing organizations have emerged, including Better World Club. These organizations generally provide similar roadside assistance, but without the lobbying activity.
Also as response to the critics, AAA has presented Hybrid Awareness in the Greenlight
Initiative, supporting plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Further Information
Get more info on 'American Automobile Association'.
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