The annual competition saw patrols from ten European motoring clubs assessed on their roadside repair skills followed by a written technical exam. They were judged by technical experts from the Swiss (Touring Club Suisse) and Croatian (Hrvatski Autoklub) motoring clubs.

Keith, the AA’s patrol of the year, says: “The standard was very high and we had to overcome translation difficulties, so it’s fantastic to be judged the best in Europe. The job of a patrol is increasingly demanding as we work on any vehicle on the road – car, motorbike or commercial vehicle – so we need to maintain a high level of technical expertise.”

Steve Dewey, AA road operations director, says: “People join the AA because of our patrols’ ability to fix cars at the roadside, so we are delighted that they’ve been recognised for being the best – for setting the technical benchmark – not only in the UK but in Europe.

“As vehicle technology evolves, we invest heavily in the latest equipment and training to ensure our patrols continue to give the best possible service at the roadside."

Full story and copyright  AA newsroom FIA road patrolman contest