The AAA: More Than Just an Auto Service

The American Automobile Association (AAA) or "Triple A" as it officially became known in 2002, actually had it's beginnings a century earlier. In 1902 the association began in an attempt to integrate the automobile into a transportation system that was dominated by the horse and carriage. A lack of suitable highways and general disapproval of the automobile led to the formation of the AAA. It was made up of a number of auto enthusiast clubs to help promote the horseless carriage as the transportation mode of the future. Now more than a century later, the AAA has endured and evolved into what it is today. As a non-profit organization, the AAA provides a multitude of products and services for drivers and travelers throughout the world.

Roadside Assistance

AAA offers a roadside assistance program for members 24 hours a day, 365 days a year as part of a basic or plus membership. Most people are familiar with AAA through its roadside assistance plan. Roadside assistance is as close as a phone call away and includes such things as towing, roadside repair of flat tires and dead batteries, a locksmith service for lockouts and even help should you run out of gas along the way.

Maps and Travel Guides

The AAA provides detailed maps and travel guides prepared to your individual needs, as well as special rates for motels, hotel, campgrounds and resort areas. Their services aren't just limited to travel by car. They also offer reduced fares on airlines, cruises and other forms of travel.

Safety Programs

The AAA also operates the Foundation for Traffic Safety which identifies traffic related safety problems, with a goal toward preventing traffic deaths and injuries through research and education. They also support safety programs such as school safety patrols and high school driver education and provide extensive public information on car care, auto loans and purchase

Financing and Insurance

Members of AAA have access to financing of new and used vehicles at competitive rates as well as insurance for auto, home and even flood. Loan applications as well as further information can be found at any district office.

The Unique

Finally with all this talk about cars, it would only make sense that auto racing would be in the wide repertoire of AAA involvement. To prove the road worthiness of the automobile, the AAA conducted cross country races and was one of the foremost auto race sanctioning organizations in the United States until the mid 1950s, including the Indianapolis 500. The AAA returned to racing in the 1990s by sponsoring race teams in the world of professional car racing.

It would seem that the American Automobile Association is much more than road maps and emergency towing services. As consumers have grown beyond the automobile, to other forms of travel and recreation, the AAA has found innovative ways to keep pace with the changing demands. It brings one to speculate what services AAA will cover as we move into the future. Possibly civilian trips into space?