AAA Washington

We’d like to reintroduce ourselves. Everyone knows AAA, but we’ve found that not everyone knows us beyond towing. So, Hi ??! We’re AAA Washington. We’re Pacific Northwestians too. We’re still the best at towing, but we’re about so much more than that and we want everyone to know! And if our new look makes you pause and go, “Wait, that’s AAA?” Mission accomplished. We’ve been around for more than a hundred years, but we can’t be here for a hundred more without evolving. You’ll see a lot more A’s and our local roots reflected in everything we do, from the images we use to how we show up across our diverse communities. This goes beyond just a new look – though we hope you like it! It's about member experience. A new website designed with usability at the forefront. Investment in enterprise systems to streamline our operations. Expanding membership perks to more than 900 local businesses. Having advisors whose help goes beyond the road: insurance agents who craft policies for PNW life, and travel advisors who transform travel ideas into plans. We’re the same AAA Washington you know and love, but so much better! We don’t have one A. We have three! And three is more than one. Discover how More A’s Means Better Ways for you at bit.ly/Better_WAAAys ?

Looking back to our Annual Meeting earlier this week, it was a powerful reminder of how far we've come and the exciting road ahead. We celebrated our incredible employees, reflected on the impact we’ve made together, and gained inspiration from community leaders. Our CEO, Heather Snavely, shared a vision for the future, and we watched moving stories that reinforced why we do what we do. With fresh energy and a renewed sense of purpose, we’re ready to take on what’s next. Here’s to another year of making a difference!???????

We’re celebrating 105 years of the AAA School Safety Patrol program! Since 1920, millions of students have served as safety patrollers, shaping young leaders and keeping school crossings safe. ?? More Than Just a Crossing Guard ?? Being a safety patroller is often the first step toward a lifetime of leadership. The program boasts an impressive list of alumni, including three former U.S. presidents, astronauts, Olympic athletes, Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, and even AAA Washington’s CEO, Heather Snavely. ?? Were You a Safety Patroller? Share Your Story! ?? As we celebrate 105 years of the School Safety Patrol, we want to hear from you! Were you a school safety patroller? We’d love to know: ?? When and where you served ?? Your favorite memories of the experience ?? Where life has taken you since then ?? A photo of your patrol days Email [email protected] with your experience and be a part of the celebration! Your stories highlight the impact of this incredible program and inspire the next generation of student leaders.

What better day than #NationalBatteryDay to celebrate recycling over 25,000 car batteries across Washington and northern Idaho in 2024! The majority of this recycling was from batteries we replaced on the go (did you know we can do that?!), but also through local Battery to Branches events we hold each year. What’s even cooler is that 100% of a car battery can be recycled! This prevents hazardous waste from polluting the environment and recovers valuable materials like lithium and nickel, reducing the need for mining and cutting the carbon footprint of battery production. Batteries are also key to clean energy solutions, from electric vehicles to large-scale energy storage. Advancements in battery efficiency and recycling are helping create a more sustainable future. If you're looking to recycle batteries, many retailers, electronics stores, and recycling centers accept them. Organizations like Call2Recycle provide convenient drop-off locations for rechargeable and single-use batteries. Many local government programs also offer battery recycling services, so check with your city or county waste management department to find nearby options.

Do you know a School Safety Patroller who goes above and beyond? They could have the opportunity to get inducted into the 2025 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame! Nominations are open now. Each year, AAA Washington inducts 10 outstanding School Safety Patrollers from around Washington state into its Hall of Fame. A panel of judges evaluates the patrollers for their commitment to traffic safety, citizenship, leadership skills, and contributions to their AAA School Safety Patrol Program. Here's how you can help: If you know a School Safety Patroller who exemplifies dedication and responsibility, ask their AAA School Safety Patrol Advisor to consider nominating them for the Hall of Fame. School Safety Patrol Advisors may nominate one current-year patroller (per school) who must: ?? Be enrolled in the highest participating grade level of their school’s Safety Patrol Program. ?? Demonstrate leadership qualities, commitment to traffic safety, school involvement and citizenship/volunteerism. ?? Value the patrol experience. To nominate a student, AAA School Safety Patrol Advisors must choose a patroller who goes above and beyond the call of duty for their school and classmates and submit the nomination packet by March 31, 2025. For more information, go to https://lnkd.in/gY5Cir6H

In 2023, traffic-related fatalities in Washington surged to levels not seen since 1990. Alarmingly, nearly one-third of these tragic deaths involved speeding. To address this growing crisis, AAA Washington joined forces with the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission in January 2024 as a founding member of the Speed Management Advisory Cooperative (SMAC). This diverse coalition—bringing together representatives from education, law enforcement, the judiciary, businesses, transportation, state and local governments, and the media—aims to eliminate speed-related fatalities through data-driven strategies and collaboration. At its most recent meeting, SMAC had the privilege of hearing from Rebecca Steinbach, representing the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (FTS). She shared insights from FTS’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, which has been tracking public attitudes toward risky driving behaviors since 2008. One key finding? Speeding is perceived differently than other dangerous behaviors like impaired or distracted driving—seen as less risky, more socially acceptable, and harder to counteract. While 50% of risky drivers engage only in speeding, a staggering 70% of those who engage in other risky behaviors also speed, multiplying the danger on our roads. FTS’s research on the profiles of drivers most likely to speed will be invaluable in shaping SMAC’s efforts to drive real change. Reducing speed-related deaths requires shifting perceptions and promoting effective solutions. Together, we can make Washington’s roads safer.

AAA Washington’s strength comes from its people—and that starts at the top. In the Driver’s Seat is our new leadership spotlight series, giving you an inside look at the executives steering our organization into the future. ? First up: Percy H., Chief Operating Officer. His people-first leadership and vision for innovation are ensuring we continue to serve our members with trusted expertise and care.

It’s an honor to play a small part in supporting Treehouse's work helping foster youth overcome barriers and gain the independence that comes with a driver’s license!

As we reflect on 2024, AAA Washington is proud of the strides we’ve made in supporting our communities and fostering a spirit of teamwork. Our Community+Giving program remains central to our mission of promoting safe mobility and building stronger communities. In 2024, we: ?? Provided 50 memberships to youth aging out of foster care through Treehouse. ?? Partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving for Child Passenger Safety Week. ?? Contributed to Bicycle Works’ refurbishment program and supported the Transportation Choices Coalition. ??? Donated over 25,000 expired maps to 85 nonprofits, repurposed for geography lessons, art projects, and upcycled crafts. Through sponsorships, donations, and volunteer work, we deepened our presence in local communities across the state through: ?? Collecting a record 4,232 pounds of toiletries for Soap for Hope, contributing to over 1.7 million items since 2008. ?? Empowering 23,000 student patrollers in 752 schools in Washington state through the AAA School Safety Patrol program. ?? Supporting 13 Washington schools for Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day ?? Sponsoring and supporting 24 local events from Spokane’s Hoopfest to Bellingham’s Tour de Whatcom to Olympia’s Arts Walk. Our employees continued to lead by example, dedicating their time to community efforts. From rehabilitating habitats and cleaning natural spaces to packing meals for children, demonstrating allyship, and wrapping gifts for those in need, our team stepped up in remarkable ways. Here’s to continuing our mission to make a positive difference in 2025!

Pacific Northwestians got a lot of AAA membership in 2024: doing more, exploring more, and saving more! Thank you to our team for everything you do to make membership mean more. Here's to a new year packed with more A's and better ways!