CAA South Central Ontario

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1900's

Canada's first association for motorists is formed

Founding members of the Toronto Automobile Club take MPPs on a ride to show that increasing the urban speed limit to 10 m.p.h. from 8 m.p.h. is not "scorching."

In 1903, public opposition to automobiles, as limited in number as they were, was widespread. Civic authorities and farmers in Ontario were apprehensive about the impact this new device - called the "horseless carriage" - would have on country roads.

For example, there was resentment to motorcars because they frightened horses, the long-established mode of local transportation.

And since "automobiling" was considered the new sport of the rich, this new mode of transportation became a target of much dislike and jealousy.

It was only when a group of pioneer motorists banded together to oppose the rising hostility to motorists that a future for these vehicles in Canada became a reality.
On May 4, 1903, in an attempt to overcome this opposition, 27 enthusiastic motorists formed a motorcade through Toronto and took Ontario MPPs for a drive to show that automobiles were safe. For many elected officials, it was their first ride in an automobile.
Among the motorists were Dr. Perry Doolittle, first president of the Toronto Automobile Club and "Father of the Trans-Canada Highway", and Sir John Eaton.

They ended their run at the Queen's Hotel, now the Royal York, where they held a meeting to organize an official motorist's association, the purpose of which was to:
"Develop interest in automobiling in Canada, and to assist in the promotion of all that pertains thereto, to assist the movement in favour of better roads, to maintain discipline among members as to the proper speed at which motor vehicles should be driven and to co-operate with the legislature in securing fair legislation on this subject."

1903
	There are about 75 motor vehicles registered in Toronto and 178 in Ontario.

1904
	About half of the 535 cars registered in Ontario belong to U.S. tourists.
	Ontario's first automobile race is held at Exhibition Park.

1906
	The first legislation dealing with motor vehicles is enacted.
	Auto clubs publish the first Official Road Guide Of Canada.

1907
	Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and Kingston auto clubs operate as the Ontario Motor League to represent motorist's interests with one voice.
	OML's membership included 170 active and 56 associate members.
	OML maintains motor vehicle registrations in Ontario.

1910's

CAA erects first road signs

Signpost trucks were used by OML members to install the first directional signs for motorists on Ontario's roads.

The Ontario Motor League's road signing program began in 1913 when Dr. Doolittle started a movement in which motorists, truck drivers and cyclists travelled throughout Ontario to install wooden road signs.

Doolittle changed his motto of "good roads for everybody" to "good roads abundantly sign-boarded" to generate enthusiasm for his road-sign campaign, which started as a Saturday afternoon bicycle run. During that day-long event, each mile of the road to Whitby from Toronto was marked with directional signposts.

More motorists started to join the road-sign campaign, which continued to build momentum through the First World War.

By 1937, more than 200,000 road signs were erected on Ontario highways by the Ontario Motor League.

1910
	OML aviation committee sets up the first flying club in Ontario to provide air travel.

1912
	Road scouts on motorcycles patrol highways on weekends to warn motorists of speed traps and to provide roadside assistance and advice on road conditions.
	Auto clubs advocate increased speed limits of 15 m.p.h. in urban centres and 20 m.p.h. in rural areas.

1913
	OML adopts its first official crest.
	The Canadian Automobile Federation is formed, eventually changing its name to the Canadian Automobile Association in 1916.
	An OML truck section is created to develop road transport and protect the interests of owners and users of commercial vehicles.

1914
	OML provides ambulances for the armed forces during the First World War. Members drive their cars to train stations to meet returning soldiers and drive them home.
	The monthly Canadian Motorists Magazine is first published.
	OML is one of the founding members of the Ontario Safety League.

1916
	Reciprocity of motor vehicle licences between Ontario and New York begins after 10 years of lobbying by OML. Reciprocity with other provinces and states soon follows.

1919
	OML advocates speed limit increases of 20 m.p.h. in cities and 25 m.p.h. in the country.

1920's

First cross-Canada trip by car

Dr. Doolittle

In 1925, Dr. Perry Doolittle, 64, drove a Canadian-built, Model T Ford to Vancouver from Halifax to build federal government support for a trans-Canada highway.

He carried a commemorative scroll signed by mayors of towns and cities during his cross-Canada journey. After backing the rear wheels of his Model T into the Atlantic Ocean on September 8, Doolittle drove for 40 consecutive days until finally parking his front wheels in the Pacific Ocean on October 17. The 7,670-kilometre route was daunting because there were only a few hundred kilometres of paved roads in Canada, mainly in or near the larger cities. In fact, Doolittle encountered roads so narrow in the Maritimes that tree branches and bushes scraped along the sides of his car. In Northern Ontario, the pace slowed to less than 30 kilometers per day because the car had to crawl over rocks and through mud holes. And later came stretches of prairie mud and a spine-chilling descent through the Rockies on roads designed for horse-drawn wagons.

The Model T proved to be remarkably hardy, averaging 190 kilometres per day and suffering only four tire punctures. The rubber tires were exchanged for steel flanged rims 14 times so the car could ride on rails of railway lines. In all, 17 per cent of the 7,670 kilometres driven were on rails because of inadequate or non-existent roads. Doolittle's arrival in Vancouver marked the first cross-Canada trip by a car under its own power without leaving Canadian soil.

1922
	CAA urges the federal government to build a trans-Canada highway.

1923
	Emergency road service is introduced to OML members in Toronto on May 1, 1923.

1924
	OML members are now covered for emergency road service in Quebec and in the U.S. The Department of Highways numbers Ontario's roads and places markings to warn of curves and turns.

1926
	OML announces that emergency road service and legal defence benefits are available province-wide to members.
	There are about 200 service stations on main roads in Ontario.

1927
	A driver's licence is first required on July 1 and OML is one of the issuers.
	Speed limits increase to 20 m.p.h. in cities and 35 m.p.h. in the country.

1930's

First aid posts for motorists established on Highway 2

The Ontario Motor League established 30 first-aid posts along Ontario's main highways with co-operation from the Canadian Red Cross Society and St. John Ambulance.

This service, given at no charge by trained volunteers to persons hurt in traffic collisions, proved its worth by alleviating suffering and preventing serious consequences from injuries.

Most of the first-aid posts - marked by large triangular signs - were spaced 24 kilometres apart along the 600-kilometre stretch of Highway 2 between London, Ont., and the Quebec border.
These posts were located where, based on records, crashes most frequently occurred.

Highway 2 was the main cross-Ontario highway at that time and had a high frequency of collisions because it carried a huge amount of traffic.

The equipment at each first-aid post consisted of a stretcher, blanket and a portable box containing splints, bandages and other dressings.

Patrollers initially wore white belts (above) but in 1996, CAA made a huge investment in florescent vests (below) to improve visibility of patrollers.

For decades, CAA organized national Jamborees at which patrollers marched from Parliament Hill through Ottawa and often met with the prime minister or Governor General (below). Patrollers meet with former Prime Minister Trudeau.

patrollers meet with Prime Minister Trudeau.

1930
	Traveller's cheques are first issued through OML's touring department.
	Campgrounds for motorists are approved, encouraged and, in some places, operated by OML.
	OML's engineering department conducts official automotive tests and issues certificates of fuel performance.
	OML's main advocacy issues include snow removal from highways, luminous danger signs, guard fences, banked turns, road markings, side paths for pedestrians, uniform traffic regulations and glaring headlights.
1937
	OML introduces personal accident insurance as a member benefit.
Student patrollers are integral to CAA Central Ontario safety program
In 1937, Ontario roads became safer thanks to the first OML-sponsored safety patroller program. The role of the program, which used student volunteers aged 11 to 14, was to protect youngsters from being injured in traffic at school crossings. Records show that patrollers were first used in Chicago with remarkable success. From 1922 - the year the program started - to 1950, child traffic fatalities in that city decreased 62 per cent while fatalities in all age groups increased 43 per cent. The credit for this success was attributed directly to the work of patrollers and to safety instruction by police, teachers and parents. In the decades following the program's inception, CAA has continued its commitment to providing training and resource and incentive support to the program. For example, CAA organized a national Jamboree in Ottawa that featured student patrollers parading on Parliament Hill for elected officials and other dignitaries. CAA South Central Ontario continues to organize an Ottawa Jamboree each year for its patrollers, which averages 1,000 attendees, including students, teachers and police officers. As well, CAA South Central Ontario funds an annual, week-long summer camp that provides high-quality leadership training to top patrollers from parts of Ontario. The school patrol program now operates in more than 20 countries around the world. The program has a proven safety record that is unequalled by any other program of its type. Since 1960 , more than 60 persons - usually fellow students - have been saved by safety patrollers from serious injury or death. And never has an injury or death been attributed to the negligence of a school patroller.

1940's

CAA assists war effort

During the Second World War, the OML co-operated with various wartime controllers concerned with the operation of motor vehicles.

These controllers - including the Oil Controller, Motor Vehicle Controller, Transit Controller, Traffic Controller, Rubber Controller and Administrator of Services - sought, received and often publicly acknowledged the co-operation of CAA and its leading constituent clubs.

Recycling of tires for war materials was a major CAA program and servicing of essential motor-vehicle owners and operators connected with the war effort expanded greatly.
Servicing of tourists was largely suspended during the war but was resumed after hostilities ceased.

1949
	Parliament passes the Trans-Canada Highway Act.

1950's

CAA hosts first Commonwealth motoring conference

The 1959 Commonwealth motoring conference was the first international event hosted by CAA. The London conference, at which Britain's Prince Philip presided as Patron, focused on establishing more motoring organizations in Commonwealth countries.

Representatives of 57 Commonwealth auto clubs - representing about six million members - attended from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and South Africa.

1959
	OML adopts CAA oval emblem.
	OML participates in AAA Foundations for Traffic Safety for the first time.
	Planned Pedestrian Safety Program is launched with survey of members.
	Membership fees increase to $15 a year and all memberships include emergency roadside service and legal defence.

1960's

OML lobbies for mandatory seat belts

In 1965, OML installed emergency call boxes on the Gardiner Expressway to provide an extra measure of security for stranded motorists. The call boxes were put on the Don Valley Parkway the following year.

Up to 1962, it was unusual for motorists to use seat belts because cars did not come equipped with the safety devices - motorists had to buy and install their own.

As part of its safety campaign, OML supplied members with belts that met Canadian Safety Association standards and asked the provincial government to require that all seat belts meet those standards.

OML's first victory came in 1963 when Ontario MPPs passed an Order in Council that banned the sale of belts that failed safety standards. OML continued to work with auto makers to ensure that seat belts not only met safety standards, but also were tested properly so that none sold were defective.

OML also continued to encourage motorists to buy and use seat belts, as well as to get auto makers to install them in every new car. By the 70's, cars were built with seat belts installed and seat-belt use became mandatory in Ontario in 1976.

1961
	OML reorganizes into 11 autonomous auto clubs in Ontario.
	The Toronto OML club starts a traffic safety division.
	Road and weather report recordings and courtesy highway patrols are established.

1966
	Membership records are computerized.
	OML becomes the exclusive issuer of International Driving Permits.

1967
	OML creates a travel agency.

1968
	OML funds its first gasoline-tax study.

1970's

OML helps start RIDE program to combat drunk driving

The R.I.D.E. program prompted the first officially recorded statistics on fatal crashes involving alcohol. R.I.D.E. also led to the first educational materials about drinking and driving as well as the "Designated Driver" program.

After the success of its seat-belt campaign, OML turned its attention to drunk driving, particularly during the holidays when a high number of road fatalities were linked with alcohol use.

To that end, the Toronto OML club helped found the RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving in Etobicoke) program in 1977.

The Toronto club worked with the Metropolitan Toronto Police to implement the RIDE program on a trial basis. It was so successful that after one year it was expanded province wide and continues today. RIDE now stands for "Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere."

1973
	Fee-free traveller's cheques are introduced at OML.

1974
	The Ontario Motor Insurance company is established.

1977
	OML-Approved Auto Repair Service is started.

1980's

Raising public awareness

1984
	The Toronto OML club changes its name to CAA Toronto.
	CAA Toronto starts an alcohol-awareness program in schools.

1985
	OML launches a campaign against gasoline tax increases.

1990's

Women's car-care program proves popular

In 1998, CAA Central Ontario held its first "Licensed to Live", a hard-hitting, anti- drinking and- driving program that included student dramatizations and solemn presentations by victims, survivors and offenders of impaired driving tragedies. The program attracted 4,500 teenagers from parts of Ontario, making it the largest event of its kind in the province's history.

More than 300 CAA members and their guests attended, at no cost to them, CAA Central Ontario's first "Women auto Know" seminar.

Subsequent seminars drew 1,000 persons, making it Canada's largest car-care seminar especially for women.

The program focused on car maintenance, including how to check and add oil, change a flat tire and use booster cables.

As well, attendees brushed up on safe driving behavior and learned about personal safety for women drivers from a police expert.

1995
	CAA Ontario works with Crime Prevention Ontario to creates CAT - Combat Auto Theft - decals for motorists to deter car thieves.
	CAA Toronto amalgamates with CAA Eastern Ontario and becomes CAA Central Ontario.

1996
	CAA Central Ontario amalgamates with CAA Peterborough, then CAA Windsor, to become the largest automobile club in Canada.
	CAA's Battery Assist program is introduced, providing members with on-the-spot battery service and replacement by trained technicians.

1999
	CAA Central Ontario starts its own locksmith service and focuses on automotive, residential and commercial industries.

2000's

CAA thinks ahead when designing a seminar for mature motorists

CAA Central Ontario pioneered Shifting Gears, a day-long safe driving program for seniors that features presentations by experts about driver testing requirements, the effects of aging and medication on driving ability and ways to maintain independence after giving up the keys. The program, co-sponsored by the provincial government, is later expanded province wide by other Ontario CAA clubs on an ongoing basis and attracts up to 1,000 seniors per seminar.

2002
	CAA Central Ontario designs a new logo for its patroller program and organizes a motto contest. The winning motto "Safety is our Specialty" is submitted by a Brampton patroller and selected from hundreds of entries.

Senior motorists learn about safe driving and driver testing requirements at CAA's Shifting Gears seminar.

Provincial transportation minister Harinder Takhar takes the podium during the Mission Possible launch and commends CAA on its remarkable 100-plus-year history as a road safety advocate.

2003
	CAA Central Ontario celebrates its centennial year by hosting an event with three Toronto mayoral hopefuls that includes touring sites of historical interest throughout Toronto in era automobiles. As well, CAA members get a chance relive automotive history during a grand exhibition staged by CAA¹s public affairs team at the centennial Annual General Meeting.

CAA Central Ontario launches its first Mission Possible road safety project, a seven-week campaign targeting unsafe speeds on highways and residential streets in the Greater Toronto Area. Enforced by police services in Toronto, York, Peel and Durham, the campaign also features high-profile billboards, radio ads, messages on MTO electronic signs, speed boards and hand-out materials to drive the message home.

CAA Central Ontario amalgamates with CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Mid-Western Ontario to become an auto-club giant called CAA South Central Ontario. The new club is responsible for providing CAA services to almost 1.6 million members.