Automobile associations
Automobile associations evolved in the early 1900s to provide advocacy, assistance and information for motorists in an era when good drivable roads were rare, maps and travel information were scarce and "the infernal contraption" which would become the motorcar was being targeted with ever-increasing government regulation lest it frighten the horses or kill pedestrians.
UnderstandThe AAA (United States of America) and AA (United Kingdom) were founded in 1902 and 1905 respectively, at a time when the motorcar was a novelty and good roads were rare.
Travel servicesWhile services provided by individual motor clubs vary, most offer roadside assistance and provide printed road maps and guidebooks to their members at no additional cost.
Roadside assistanceVarious motor clubs or automobile associations provide roadside assistance to members:
Alternative organisationsIn some countries more than one automobile association exists. This is often due to the political efforts of automobile associations that have been construed as being "lobbying" for cars, roads and fossil dependency.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Automobile associations" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0