American Automobile Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
AAA (read triple-A), also known by its historic name of the American Automobile Association, is an American not-for-profit automobile lobby group and service organization that provides its members with many member benefits and services including but not limited to Nationwide Emergency Road Side Assistance, Insurance Coverage and Travel Information/Reservations.<ref>American Automobile Association: More Than 100 Years of Experience. Retrieved on 2006-08-21.</ref>
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[edit] History
The American Automobile Association (AAA) was founded on March 4, 1902 in response to a lack of highways suitable for autos and widespread public disapproval of the automobile and its noise. In an effort led by the Chicago Motor Club and the Automobile Club of New York, AAA was formed by a group of regional auto and motor clubs, whose members were auto enthusiasts and typically wealthy. The auto clubs combined forces through AAA to promote the automobile as the future of personal transportation. Its' influence during the 20th century shaped much of America's automotive lifestyle and public policy.
The AAA clubs expanded their 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.
To prove automobiles worthy, AAA and its member clubs conducted cross country endurance exhibitions and AAA was the most widely recognized sanctioning organization for automobile racing in the United States until 1956. It sanctioned many races, including the Indianapolis 500. Its largest auto club, the Automobile Club of Southern California, returned to racing in the 1990s by sponsoring race teams. AAA and Roush Racing are geared for the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup racing series. AAA is the primary sponsor of driver David Ragan and Roush Racing's flagship No. 6 Nextel Cup Ford Fusion.
[edit] Current operations
Based in Heathrow, Florida a suburb of Orlando, Florida, AAA is a national federation of independent automobile clubs who provide member services in exclusive territories. AAA National serves the interests of its auto clubs by providing federation governance, national public policy influence and some AAA-branded goods and services for clubs to sell or provide to their members, most notably maps and travel guides.
Consumers belong to an individual club, such as the Automobile Club of Southern California, AAA Nebraska or AAA New England. Since the 1990s, the clubs have been merging and reducing their number. As result, members may belong to large multistate operations while other members may belong to clubs the size of a few counties. To keep services comparable, the clubs have agreed to a basic set of services and have arranged a reciprocal service system so members away from home are able to receive member services from any other club. There is a similar reciprocal service system with auto clubs in some foreign countries, especially in Europe and Canada (See International Affiliates below). Member dues and their purchase of travel, insurance and other services finance the clubs as well as contribute to the operations of the national organization.
[edit] Member Benefits
[edit] Roadside Assistance
AAA offers 24-hour roadside assistance throughout the United States and Canada. Roadside assistance can be requested by telephone or through AAA's website. Four service calls per year are included with either basic or plus membership. Additional calls cost extra. Members are covered both as drivers and passengers. Service calls include:
- Changing or reinflating flat tires
- Jump-starting dead batteries, and replacing batteries (in some areas).
- Unlocking vehicles or replacing lost keys.
- Making minor adjustments to start a vehicle
- Providing a tow to a nearby service station if vehicle can't be started (5mi free with basic membership and 100mi free with plus membership - additional mileage charged by the mile).
- Delivering small quantities of fuel.
- Extrication/winching.
[edit] Consumer Information
AAA provides information on such topics as, car care and problem diagnosis, researching a new or used car, auto warranties, applying for an auto loan, the cost of vehicle ownership, and finding a good auto technician or AAA approved Auto Repair facilty.
[edit] Travel Services
Travel counselors assist members with vacation and business travel plans.
- Personalized strip maps with marked driving routes, information on hotels, food and gas.
- TourBook guides, travel guides, hotel directories.
- Reduced rates at many hotels, motels, resorts and campgrounds.
- Reservations and tickets for hotels, cruise, tour, motorcoach, rail and air travel.
- Independent or escorted tours for individuals or groups.
- Benefits on cruises, tours and travel packages, such as discounts and free gifts.
[edit] Additional benefits
- Bail bonds if arrested for some car-related offenses
- Lawyer referral
- Discounts at various retailers, restaurants, hotels, attractions, sports and recreation venues, and online.
- Access to financing or refinancing for new and used vehicles.
- Insurance including: auto, homeowners, life, mobile home, renters, flood, motorcycle, recreational vehicle or pet insurance.
- Travelers Cheques and AAA Visa Credit Cards
[edit] Safety and Legislative Programs
AAA supports safety programs, including school safety patrols, high school driver education support and pedestrian protection. AAA is an endorser of teen Graduated Licensing legislation as well as child passenger safety laws.
[edit] Regional affiliates
Notable AAA affiliates include the Automobile Club of Southern California and the California State Automobile Association. Other affiliates are simply "AAA (Name of Region)" such as AAA Northern New England.
[edit] International affiliates
The AAA has reciprocal arrangements with a range of international affiliates in 34 countries. In general, members of affiliates are offered some AAA benefits, such as member discounts, while AAA members are offered equivalent benefits while travelling in the territory of the affiliate.
International affiliates include:
- The Canadian Automobile Association in Canada (TourBook guides and maps of Canadian places are published by AAA, and are distributed by AAA and CAA clubs using both AAA and CAA logos).
- The Automobile Association in the United Kingdom.
- ADAC of Germany
- All 29 ARC Europe clubs
- All 7 clubs of AAA Australia
- JAF of Japan
- AMA of Mexico
- ACP of Portugal
- AASA of South Africa
- KAA of South Korea
[edit] Criticism
AAA has been criticised for its lobbying arm's environmental positions. Specifically, the organization has a record of supporting more highway construction and opposing environmental restrictions on automobiles. The Environment News Service notes a 1999 AAA effort to persuade lawmakers to focus their efforts away from autombiles in reducing air pollution. AAA's interim vice president of public relations, Susan Pikrallidas, is quoted as saying, "Overall air quality in our cities is improving, and it's due in large part to the automobile,"<ref name="ens_aaa_report">"Don't Blame Cars for Smog, AAA Says", Environmental News Service, September 29, 1999.</ref> in reference to a report attributing cleaner air to cleaner cars.
Harper's Magazine notes, that AAA opposed "strengthening of the Clean Air Act - a measure supported by three fourths of Americans - on the grounds that it would limit the 'personal mobility' of motorists."<ref name="harpers_aaa_hell">Silverstein, Ken. "AAA Paves the Road to Hell", Harper's Magazine, May 2002.</ref> AAA, besides opposing environmental restrictions on automobiles, often supports widening highways and opposes smart growth.[citation needed]
Many AAA members are unaware of how the organization is representing them, according to many environmentalists. The Sierra Club writes that although AAA supports "more highway spending, fewer pollution controls and less money for mass transit ... This isn't exactly common knowledge".[1]
The Better World Club was founded as an alternative to AAA and offers many of the same services but has more environmentally friendly lobbying practices.
