THE AA has pledged a major investment in vehicle-location systems technology and in-car traffic and route information as a fundamental part of its bid to become the premier roadside assistance organisation in the UK. The breakdown and recovery giant is spending up to £20 million this year as part of a multi-million pound programme designed to assure its superiority in roadside delivery service.

AA director general John Maxwell said that following a detailed review of all its activities the AA was now focused on a clear new strategy to compete in a market undergoing dramatic changes, which include the prospect of new owners at RAC Motoring Services and the entry of Direct Line into the breakdown and recovery market.

He claimed the AA was already setting new industry standards for telephone answering, time-to-arrive and roadside fix rates, using its own patrols in more than 90% of incidents.