AA plc (originally The Automobile Association ) is a British automotive association founded in 1905, which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, cover damages, loans, automotive advice, road maps and other services. The association was demutualized in 1999, to become a private limited company, and in 2002, AA Motoring Trust was created to continue the public interest and road safety activities.
It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituency of the FTSE 250 Index.
Video The Automobile Association
History
The charity
The Automotive Association was founded in 1905, to help motorists avoid police speed traps, in response to the 1903 Motor Car Law which introduced new penalties for breaking speed limits, for reckless driving with fines, support and possible jail for speeding and more. driving offense.
The action also requires drivers to hold a driver's license (obtained without a five-shilling payment test) and to display registration plates in their vehicles.
In 1906, AA had built thousands of danger signs and roadside signs, and set road signs until responsibility was handed over to local authorities in the early 1930s. In 1926, the organization installed 6,500 signposts, and 15,000 village marks, most of which were removed during the Second World War.
In 1908, the organization published the first AA Member Handbook containing a list of agents and national reparations.
The AA patrol on the bike warns the police trap rider up front. In 1910, in the case of a legal test (Betts vs Stevens) involving an AA patrol and a potential motorcyclist, The Supreme Court Justice, Lord Alverston, decided that where a patrolman signaled to a driver who drove to slow down and thereby avoid traps, then that person would commit an offense 'blocking an officer in carrying out his duties' under the Prevention of Amendment Crimes Act of 1885.
Furthermore, the organization developed a coded warning system, which was used until the 1960s, where a patrolman would always salute the passing car driver who showed a visible AA Badge unless there was a speed trap nearby, on the understanding that their officers were not can be prosecuted for failing to salute.
The AA Handbook incorporates the following message over and over: "It can not be overemphasized that when a patrol fails to salute, the member must stop and ask the reason why, because the patrol must have something important to communicate."
In 1910, the organization introduced AA Routes and in 1912, began inspecting hotels and restaurants, published AA Star Classification to qualified and introduced pre-purchase and post-repair checks accident in the 1920s.
In 1920, members were issued with wooden telephone box locks on the side of the road that could be used to call the organization for assistance (boxes were set up in 1912 as a shelter for guards or patrollers). There were nearly 1,000 boxes in their heyday, and they remained in use until the 1960s.
During the Second World War, a large number of patrols served in the Military Police Corps. Some have been members of the pre-war Territorial parliament and many others were encouraged to join management after the war broke out. They are rewarded for their signing and routing skills and the fact that they are already a disciplined and uniformed man's body, accustomed to working on motorbikes and working on their own.
1949 saw the launch of night time disruption and recovery services, initially in London alone, then extended nationally. The AA Insurance brokerage service started in 1967.
After the war, AA led a protest against gasoline rationing, which was lifted in 1950. The organization campaigned to wear mandatory seat belts, and to introduce unleaded gasoline. The seatbelt legislation became law in Great Britain in 1983 as required by the Transport Act 1981. They have lobbied the government successively over what they describe as 'unfair motor vehicle tax'.
In February 1972, AA moved from its headquarters in London to Basingstoke. It started broadcasting AA Roadwatch traffic reports on commercial radio stations the following year. AA Relay was also introduced in 1973, a service that would deliver damaged vehicles, drivers and passengers, luggage and trailers to anywhere in the UK.
Non-profit company
The demutualized association in July 1999 became a private limited company, purchased in the same year by Centrica (best known by the brands of British Gas and Scottish Gas).
Centrica sells AA in July 2004 to two private equity firms, CVC and Permira, which in July 2007 combines AA with Saga under Acromas Holdings.
In July 2013, the company launched AA Cars , which connects used car buyers with sellers. This service is a partnership with Vcars, rebranding an online partner service that already exists and provides a car history check. At rebranding more than 110,000 cars are available for purchase through 2,000 registered dealers.
AA became listed on the London Stock Exchange as AA plc in June 2014, through an initial public offering in which Acromas sold all of its shares. In 2015, AA acquired the Motoriety booking garage service. In that year, AA has about 3,000 patrol staff.
Bob Mackenzie is Chief Executive since June 2014, after leading a purchase from Acromas, until August 2017 when he was removed for "grave breaches". He was succeeded by Simon Breakwell as Acting Chief Executive, and John Leach as Chairman.
In July 2015, AA added more than five hundred new Volkswagen Transporter vans to its patrol fleet. More vans are booked in February 2017.
The organization operated in Ireland beginning in 1910. The AA Irish business was sold to Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund and Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners in June 2016. The company claims that it has 3.3 million members paying in the first half of 2017.
Continue charity
The AA Foundation for Road Safety Research was developed by AA in 1986. In 2002, the AA Motoring Trust charity was formed to continue the AA public and road safety activities; his responsibilities were transferred to the IAM Motoring Trust, under the Institute of Advanced Motorists, at the end of 2006.
Maps The Automobile Association
AA ratings and awards
Hotels, guest accommodation and self catering accommodation
The AA award rating according to the system based on quality standards, agreed by the AA and various travel authorities in the UK. The property is rated a star, from one to five stars. In addition, each hotel receives "Merit% Value" to allow comparison of hotels with the same star rating. A prominent hotel can also receive the "AA Inspector 'Choice" Red Star award. A similar reward for guest accommodation is the "Gold Star" for properties that are considered prominent.
Campsites and caravan parks
AA Award "Pennant rating" for campsites and caravan parks on a five-point scale. A percentage score is also given to allow comparison of parks with the same rating.
Restaurants
The AA inspector gives the AA rosette on a system of zero to five. The default is high, and only about one in ten restaurants are considered worthy of a single rosette.
See also
- Vehicle restoration
- Campaign for Secure Road Design
- Norfolk House, Basingstoke - former headquarters
- Widmerpool Hall - the former home of the AA patrol training school
References
External links
- Official website
- AA Garage Guide
- Company website
- Court case in 1910 about possible obstruction of a police officer by an AA patrol officer
- Saving AA 472 Box
- AA box image on flickr
- A Pay Card from AA
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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