WASHINGTON, D. C. (Monday, December 18, 2017) –– With the vast majority of holiday travelers, 97.4 million persons, hitting the road to their holiday destinations during the Christmas and New Year’s season, AAA roadside angels anticipate riding to the rescue of nearly one million (901,600) motorists. Before embarking on their holiday trips, travelers should take steps to prevent millions of roadside breakdowns from happening in the first place, advise automotive experts at AAA Car Care Centers throughout the region. They are “offering this simple phrase to kids from one to ninety-two:” take your vehicle to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out.

A combined total of 7.2 million persons hailing from Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington metro area will travel by automobile to their Christmastime and New Year’s Eve holiday destinations. During the Christmas season, AAA roadside rescuers will assist approximately 13,300 travelers in Maryland, 10,000 people in Virginia, and 1,700 drivers in Washington, D.C. proper. Stuck? AAA Emergency Roadside Assistance will prioritize your call based on whether you are in a safe place or not.

Perhaps that old saying from the classic 1946 film “It’s A Wonderful Life” that goes “Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings” is true after all. Stranded? Give AAA Emergency Roadside Assistance a ring. During the holiday season, AAA roadside angels will jump-start thousands of vehicles because the auto battery lost charge or they will mount spares for tens of thousands of motorists stranded by a flat tire. They will deliver gas or diesel to members who run out of fuel on their holiday excursions (in a sufficient amount to empower the stranded driver and passengers to reach the nearest open service station), and they will extricate drivers stuck on the side of the road. They will also unlock vehicles and tow vehicles.

Day-in and day-out, battery failures, flat tires and keys locked inside the vehicle remain the top roadside assistance requests. Vehicles fewer than five years old have a higher proportion of tire, key and fuel-related issues than older vehicles, according to a study by AAA Automotive Solutions. Due in part to complex, electronic vehicle designs, one-in-five service calls for a newer vehicle required a tow to a repair facility. Interestingly, more roadside rescuers are dispatched in the summer months than in the winter months, when motorists stay put during inclement weather. Year-in and year-out, roadside assistance calls peak in the summer (8.3 million) followed by winter (8.1 million), fall (7.8 million) and spring (7.7 million), explains AAA Automotive Solutions. 

Drivers need to prepare themselves for the trip both physically and psychically. Get plenty of rest before setting out on a holiday road trip and schedule breaks every two hours or 100 miles to remain alert and avoid driving drowsy. Also, be aware of the dangers of driving distracted. Drivers should designate a passenger to serve as their official text messenger and navigator. If faced with a vehicle emergency, safely steer your car off the roadway. Turn on the emergency flashers to alert other drivers and exit the vehicle on the side facing away from traffic if possible. Once everyone is in a safe location, request assistance from a road service provider.  

Before hitting the road, make sure your vehicle is road-trip ready. Stop by a trusted repair shop, such as one of AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Car Care Centers or one of the more than 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America, for an inspection. In case of an emergency, be prepared by keeping a cell phone and charger with you at all times. Carry an emergency kit with a flashlight, extra batteries, warning devices such as flares or reflective triangles, jumper cables, a first-aid kit and extra water. 

This time of year travelers need to also be aware of weather reports and road conditions. Rain, sleet, snow, freezing drizzle, and even flurries can spawn tricky and treacherous Christmas travel problems and flight delays. AAA offers the following tips for travelers who may encounter winter weather conditions:

·         Check windshield wipers and inspect tires to ensure safe drivability before setting out.

·         Pack an emergency kit containing a snow shovel, flashlight, ice scraper, jumper cables, warning devices and extra warm clothing for everyone riding in the vehicle.

·         When driving, slow down and do not tailgate.

·         Leave following distances to a minimum of five to six seconds to allow additional braking room should a sudden stop become necessary.

Here’s the upshot. Car battery-related issues, lockouts and flat tires will be the leading reasons AAA is called for roadside assistance over the holidays. For members in need of roadside assistance, download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP. For added convenience, Wazers can now request AAA roadside assistance directly from the Waze app by tapping the Report menu.  AAA membership provides benefits to the actual member, not the vehicle.

In 2015, AAA rescued a record-breaking 32 million drivers, with more battery, flat tire and key problems than ever before. This past summer AAA rescued 7 million American drivers, with the majority facing battery, lock and tire-related issues. Of that tally, more than 3 million drivers experienced significant vehicle issues that required a tow to a repair facility.

Before heading out on your year-end holiday road trip, download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Travelers can use the app to map a route, find the lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance, and find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and more. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

With the AAA Mobile app, travelers can also find nearly 59,000 AAA Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants. AAA’s is the only rating system that uses full-time, professionally trained evaluators to inspect each property on an annual basis. Every AAA Inspected & Approved establishment offers the assurance of acceptable cleanliness, comfort and hospitality, and ratings of One to Five Diamonds help travelers find the match for amenities and services.

AAA Emergency Roadside Assistance is working around the clock, 24 hours a day. Day and night it provides mobile battery service, emergency fuel delivery, towing and much more. Depending upon your membership level, you could be covered up to 200 miles.

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Washington, D.C. Mailing Address:
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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com