To help deliver consistent and dependable roadside assistance across more than forty countries, ARC Europe and FIA Region I organised the annual Road Patrol Training for Excellence (RPTfE) 2026, hosted by ADAC. Bringing together patrol officers from European assistance networks, the event provides a shared, measurable benchmark of technical capability across diverse automotive markets.
From 13 to 16 October, 32 patrol officers representing 16 European clubs gathered at the ADAC training facility in Penzing, Germany. Combining technical training with team competition, the event gave patrol officers the opportunity to develop their skills and demonstrate them in practice. The shared goal was to support a consistent high standard of roadside assistance wherever a breakdown occurs.
A single benchmark for a complex continent
For vehicle manufacturers, international fleet operators and mobility partners entrusting their customers to a European roadside network, consistent execution is essential. They need confidence that technical capability is developed, assessed and applied across the network.
The core philosophy behind RPTfE is straightforward: put participating teams through the same workshops, assess their performance within a shared framework, and measure them against a common benchmark. Yet the clubs involved work with different vehicle populations and encounter new technologies at different rates. A system that is already familiar to patrol officers in one country may still be an occasional roadside challenge in another. Common training gives teams the opportunity to build those skills before they become part of their daily routine, helping align technical capability across markets.
Workshops built from the reality of the road
The four technical workshops at the 2026 event were designed around real operational challenges encountered in daily roadside assistance. They prepared patrol officers for increasingly complex vehicle technologies and expanded what can be diagnosed and resolved directly at the roadside.
One workshop focused on Modern Vehicle Security Systems, addressing recurring situations reported through field operations. For instance, a key that appears desactivated may be affected by a vehicle security feature. Patrol officers explored alternative ways to restore access, including smartphone applications or second keys. Recognising these options can help solve the caseat the roadside and avoid towing a vehicle when the situation can be resolved on the spot.
A second workshop addressed Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), focusing on diagnostic approaches for complex systems involving cameras, sensors and vehicle electronics when they fail to operate as expected. A third session covered 12–48V Vehicle Architecture in Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs), where understanding the interaction between multiple electrical systems is essential to identifying the root cause of a fault.
Finally, a workshop on LIN-BUS and PWM signals examined communication and control signals between vehicle components. A fault may involve the signals between components rather than a damaged physical part. These workshops turn experience from roadside operations into practical knowledge that can be shared across the network.
Balancing traditional breakdowns with modern technology
Roadside assistance must address both familiar breakdowns and increasingly complex vehicle technologies. Battery failures, tyre problems and other everyday incidents remain central to the job, while advances in vehicle electronics, security systems and connectivity require additional diagnostic skills. RPTfE prepares patrol officers for both, strengthening core breakdown expertise while expanding the range of problems they can diagnose and resolve directly at the roadside.
RPTfE builds on core breakdown skills while developing the diagnostic capabilities needed for these newer vehicles. By exposing patrol officers to emerging technologies before those systems become routine in their local markets, the training helps them prepare for increasingly complex roadside situations.
Putting diagnostic skills to the test
Across the four technical workshops, each team completed eight practical assessments, applying what they had learned to diagnostic problems.
Working within a shared framework allowed teams to demonstrate how they approached a fault and applied their technical knowledge while exchanging techniques and learning from one another’s best practices. This tests a capability that matters in everyday assistance: identifying the right course of action while a driver is waiting for help.
Direct manufacturer insight: the Mercedes-Benz collaboration
Building on a collaboration introduced in 2024, a Mercedes-Benz Flying Doctor delivered dedicated product training during the Penzing event. Flying Doctors are specialist technical experts who travel internationally to help local workshop teams diagnose and resolve complex vehicle faults. They bring in-depth product knowledge and support cases that cannot easily be resolved locally.
As vehicles incorporate more interconnected control units and increasingly complex diagnostic systems, bringing manufacturer-level expertise directly into the roadside network serves a practical purpose. Participating patrol officers return to their home organisations as knowledge multipliers, sharing that expertise with their local teams.
Results and the continuous pursuit of excellence
At the conclusion of the event, Lee Morley and Kevin Osmore from The AA (United Kingdom) were named Road Patrol Team of the Year 2026. ANWB (Netherlands) secured second place, followed by ÖAMTC (Austria) in third.
While the central gathering in Penzing takes place annually, maintaining a shared standard is a continuous effort. Regional training sessions and technical exchanges continue throughout the year, helping the network share experience and respond to different operational needs.
Through the ongoing work of ARC Europe Academy, the network also continues to develop the skills and capabilities needed for today’s roadside challenges and tomorrow’s services.
One standard. Raised every year.
