St. Louis in 1915 AAA’s service to stranded motorists began
Shortly after the automobile was invented came another development: the breakdown. Ever since there have been cars, there has been car trouble—flat tires, dead batteries, blown engines and more. Motorists needed someone to call for help and AAA became that someone. In 1915, the Automobile Club of St. Louis launched the motor club’s First Aid Corps, a band of five mechanics on motorcycles.
Today, AAA has 55 million members and a network of more than 40,000 service providers. AAA handles approximately 30 million roadside assistance calls a year, or about one call every second of the day. Last year the primary reasons members requested roadside assistance were dead batteries, flat tires and lock outs. AAA roadside assistance is about finding the right solution to mobilize disabled vehicles and help members get back on the road safely and efficiently.
The early stages of emergency road service for AAA began on April 11, 1915, when the Automobile Club of St. Louis (now AAA Missouri) launched the “First Aid Corps.” The club sent mechanics on motorcycles to assist stranded motorists throughout St. Louis County each Sunday, assisting members and nonmembers with engine, tire, and other vehicular concerns. The mechanics aided 24 motorists in trouble on that first day of service 100 years ago, and by the end of the month they had helped 171.
AAA Missouri records of those early days include a comment from Automobile Club of St. Louis President Edward Flesh: “This club’s service corps has been so helpful to motorists in trouble on Sundays that the club is seriously thinking of sending the first aid men out on Saturdays, too.”
By the 1920’s, the club began contracting with vehicle repair facilities so that Members could receive roadside assistance around the clock, seven days a week. Other clubs began introducing the service in their areas and by 1936 roadside assistance was provided by all AAA clubs.
Through the years, innovations in technology have sped the delivery of roadside assistance. While early calls were recorded on paper, today’s AAA invests in state-of-the-art call centers, staffed by trained professionals focused on members’ safety and security. For Members who prefer communicating in a digital manner service may also be accessed through the AAA Mobile App or at AAA.com on their computer, smartphone or tablet. Whether it’s replacing a battery, pulling a vehicle out of a snowy ditch, or towing a car for repairs, AAA is focused on delivering member safety, security and peace of mind at the roadside.
Quick Facts
- AAA services 30 million calls a year.
- AAA has a network of over 40,000 service providers.
- The three most common reasons for contacting AAA were dead batteries, flat tires and lock outs.
- AAA replaced more than 1.5 million batteries at the roadside last year.
Source: AAA Missouri Auto Club