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Salutes and sentry boxes mark 120 years of The AA

Marcus White
BBC News
The AA A black-and-white image, apparently a photograph with artificial enhancement or drawing, shows a man wearing an AA badge and armband on his jacket. He is holding a bicycle in a road.The AA
Early AA patrolmen were deployed on bicycles to warn of police speed traps

The AA is celebrating 120 years since it was founded by a handful of motoring enthusiasts.

The organisation traces its origins to a committee that aimed to warn drivers of police speed traps.

It took the name The Automobile Association on 26 June 1905 and went on to open England's first petrol station, erect early road signs and improve mapping.

The Basingstoke-based group now supports 14 million members through its fleet of yellow breakdown vans and other services.

The AA A black-and-white photo of a three-wheeled motorcycle bear the AA logo and being driven by a man in uniform.The AA
Patrols later took to motorcycles, before vans were eventually introduced in 1962

Early AA patrol workers were deployed on bicycles with the aim of "indicating dangers on the road and helping motorists who had broken down", according to the firm's website.

An AA badge on a car grille indicated membership and a requirement for the patrolman to salute the driver, sometimes conveying a message.

In a celebrated legal case - Betts v Stevens (1909) - a patrolman was convicted of obstructing police by deliberately giving a warning of a speed trap.

Subsequently, patrols stayed within the law by omitting the iconic AA salute in order to warn drivers.

The AA A black-and-white image of the canopied Aldermaston filling station, where a uniformed worker is using a hose to put fuel into a vintage car.The AA
England's first filling station was opened in Berkshire in 1919

England's first petrol station was opened by the organisation at Aldermaston, Berkshire, in 1919.

The AA also erected early location signs and roadside sentry boxes equipped with telephones.

The custom of saluting ended in 1962, the same year that yellow AA vans began to replace patrol motorcycles.

In recent years, the organisation has campaigned on motoring issues, calling for new young drivers to be banned from carrying passengers for six months and for smart motorways to be scrapped.

The AA A black-and-white image of a circular road sign for Esher, showing distances to Kingston, Guildford and London as well as the Automobile Association logo and the message "Safety First"The AA
The AA erected early road signs before they became a municipal responsibility

The AA has competition from a host of other breakdown firms, as well as in the insurance, travel and financial sectors.

It reported £1.9bn of net debt in April, down from £2.2bn the previous year.

Chief executive Jakob Pfaudler said: "It is an honour to lead The AA as it celebrates its 120th anniversary.

"As the UK automotive sector evolves with electric vehicles, connected cars and autonomous technology, The AA and our patrols will always be needed to keep people on the road."

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