The Automobile Association (The AA), a British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 motoring association founded in 1905 was demutualised

Demutualization

Demutualization is the process by which a customer-owned mutual organization or co-operative changes legal form to a joint stock company. It is sometimes called stocking or privatization. As part of the demutualization process, members of a mutual usually receive a "windfall" payout, in the form...

 in 1999 to become a private limited company which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover

Breakdown cover

Breakdown cover is a service that provides assistance to motorists whose vehicles have suffered a mechanical failure that is significant enough to leave them stranded at their present location....

, loans and motoring advice, and other services. Following demutualisation the AA Motoring Trust was created in 2002 to continue its public interest and road safety activities. In 2007 the AA merged with Saga Group

Saga Group

Saga is a British company focused on serving the needs of those aged 50 and over. It has 2.7 million customers. The company has five call centres. All are in the UK, three in Folkestone, Kent at Middelburg Square, Enbrook Park and Cheriton Park; the fourth at the Eurokent Business park in...

 to form Acromas Holdings

Acromas Holdings

Acromas Holdings is the parent company for the merged Automobile Association and Saga Group. The company was formed in May 2007, ahead of the merger the following September.The company also owns Drakefield Insurance, which the AA acquired in May 2007....

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The Automobile Association was founded in 1905 to help motorists avoid police

Police

The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...

 speed trap

Speed Trap

Speed Trap is a live jazz album by Peter King, recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in September 1994, and released in 1996 under the Ronnie Scotts Jazz House label...

s in response to the Motor Car Act 1903

Motor Car Act 1903

The Motor Car Act 1903 introduced registration of motor cars and licensing of drivers in the United Kingdom and increased the speed limit.-Context:...

 which introduced new penalties for breaking the speed limit

Speed limit

Road speed limits are used in most countries to regulate the speed of road vehicles. Speed limits may define maximum , minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using a traffic sign...

, for reckless driving

Reckless driving

Reckless driving is a major moving traffic violation. As a legal term, it is used within the United States. This offence has been abolished in the United Kingdom and replaced...

 with fines, endorsements and the possibility of jail for speeding and other driving offenses.