AAA Arizona Recognized With Prestigious Copper Anvil Award

Phoenix, Ariz., September 28, 2007 – The Valley of the Sun Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) recently honored AAA Arizona with a prestigious Copper Anvil Award. The auto club was recognized in the “Public Affairs” category for efforts undertaken to advocate for passage of the Teenage Driver Safety Act legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Napolitano on May 14, 2007.

“We are truly honored to receive this distinguished award,” said AAA Arizona Public Affairs Manager Linda Gorman. “This award represents our dedication towards not only the passage of this legislation, but also our long-standing commitment to saving lives and creating safer roads for everyone in Arizona.”

Prior to the enactment of the Teenage Driver Safety Act, Arizona was one of only five states without an intermediate teen driver program. States that have adopted this approach have seen reductions in teen-related incidents by as much as 30 percent.  

The legislation was sponsored by Senators Barbara Leff and Ron Gould and House Majority Whip, Representative John McComish and was supported by a coalition of 27 agencies and organizations including law enforcement, public-safety advocates, the insurance industry, medical and hospital organizations and child-safety advocates, among others.

The Copper Anvil Awards are an annual competition sponsored by the Phoenix Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The award recognizes programs and campaigns that incorporate sound research, planning, execution and evaluation. The award also reflects the highest standards of performance in public relations in both for profit and nonprofit settings.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 750,000 Arizona members.  Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists.  Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.