AA and what3words team up to locate exactly where you break down (2024)
The AA has teamed up with location technology company What3Words to pinpoint broken-down drivers in unfamiliar locations.
The What3Words app has broken the world down into three-metre-square areas, each with a three-word name. For example, ///clean.wide.allows is Big Ben, while ///influencing.cope.nervy puts you in the centre circle at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Now, though, the AA is using the technology to help its patrols track down stranded motorists.
More on the ways tech can help when you break down:
The AA says the technology is particularly useful for those ringing the AA’s call centre when they have broken down. Motorists using the AA app can use their phone’s built-in location equipment to bring a patrol directly to them, but those using more traditional methods may not have the same capability.
In such cases, callers will be invited to give the AA a What3Words location to pinpoint their position. For example, instead of saying, “I’m on the M6 near Seabridge, past a wood, heading south” customers can simply say the three words that correspond to their location - in this case, “audit twins cute”.
The AA says this is particularly useful on motorways or in towns where road names may be duplicated. For example, the capital, London, has 34 Victoria Roads, yet each What3Words address is unique. And any three-word addresses that sound similar have been placed a long way apart by the app developers.
Edmund King, the AA’s president, said the technology would be helpful for motorists who find themselves stranded.
“Breaking down in an unfamiliar location can be a daunting experience for anyone,” he said. “This simple solution helps drivers to identify where they are - and helps us find them even faster. By using the latest technology we are continuing to enhance our services. Using three everyday words might seem strange but is a smart way to get you back on the road.”
And Chris Sheldrick, the CEO and co-founder of What3Words, said the system was already proving effective with police, fire and ambulance services.
“Earlier this year, What3Words was rolled out by emergency services across the country,” he said. “One of the key areas that our system proved invaluable was on long stretches of motorways and unnamed rural roads. These locations can be incredibly difficult to describe and when responding quickly is crucial to keep people safe, the precision and ease of three words can save vital time in locating someone in need of help. The AA has been quick to see this same benefit, ensuring that their control rooms are trained to use What3Words to locate callers and dispatch help exactly where it's needed.”
what3words helps drivers and our contact centre staff to identify an exact breakdown location. By working together, The AA
The AA
AA Limited, trading as The AA (formerly AA plc), is a British motoring association. Founded in 1905, it provides vehicle insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans, motoring advice, road maps and other services.
and what3words are using the latest technology to provide drivers with even more peace of mind. Using three everyday words is a smart way to get you back on the road.”
what3words is a global addressing system that makes it really simple to communicate exact locations. They've divided the world into 3m x 3m squares, and given each square a unique combination of three words. The addresses are easy to say and share, and are as accurate as GPS coordinates.
We'll also send you live text updates so you can follow our progress, and you'll be able to track your patrol on the map 15 minutes before they arrive*. Occasionally, if one of our mechanics isn't free, we'll send out a third party patrol to get you back on the road.
As the entire what3words grid is fixed, the 3 word address for a particular location will never change even if buildings or streets are redeveloped. 3 word addresses are unique, unlike street names which are often duplicated, and they are easier to communicate and share with others.
In an emergency, you should call 999 and give the call handler the what3words address for where help is needed (you will need phone signal to do this – the what3words app cannot pass location information directly to the emergency services).
It's very simple: it's a closed system. So their company own the database of words which are mapped to locations and this is not Open Data so the only way of mapping three words to a location, or vice versa, is through their company and its servers. Now I hope you can immediately see the problem with this.
It has divided the world into 3 metre squares and given each one a unique identifier made from three words. what3words can be used via the free mobile app and the online map at what3words.com There's also an API that developers can use to integrate what3words into their own apps and platforms.
Every single what3words address is randomly allocated and permanently fixed – they'll never change. This means our system can work offline, with no need for updates. We've previously considered and tested a system where people could buy words of their own choosing.
The AA membership breakdown reporting app is a free travel and navigation app developed by the Automobile Association, available on Android. This app is your reliable travel companion, ensuring you stay on the road wherever your journey takes you.
Many emergency services around the world now accept 3 word addresses from callers who would otherwise struggle to say exactly where they need help. what3words has helped find many people in need of emergency assistance quickly and easily.
here are some of the most popular ways of using what3words. Join the runners, hikers, cyclists and bird watchers using what3words to share the precise starting points of activities as well as their favourite spots. To make life easier and less frustrating, always ask for or share a what3words address.
From logistics giants to animal rescue charities, thousands of organisations in the UK use what3words every day. Widely adopted by emergency services, the technology has also been quickly embraced by public authorities, utilities providers, and property managers.
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