WASHINGTON, D. C. (Friday, June 30, 2017) –– Roadside angels from AAA will get their wings all throughout the Independence Day holiday weekend. The auto club expects to rescue more than 338,000 motorists across the USA during the five-day holiday period. On roadways and interstates in the Mid-Atlantic region, AAA emergency roadside assistance personnel will come to the rescue of 32,000 stranded and stalled motorists. The usual culprits: dead batteries, flat tires, blowouts and lockouts. During the 2016 Independence Day holiday travel period, AAA emergency roadside assistance heroes rescued 1,250 motorists in Washington, D.C., 8,283 motorists in distress in Maryland and 6,286 drivers stuck on the side of the road in Virginia.

This 4^th of July, 967,600 Washington area residents strong will travel by automobile to their holiday destinations. Before hitting the highways for the holiday, area motorists should make sure their vehicles are ready for the road ahead, advises AAA Mid-Atlantic Automotive Services. Oil changes, fluid level checks, battery tests and tire inspections go a long way toward reducing the chances of a breakdown. Better call Saul. It’s best to call your roadside assistance provider once a breakdown occurs. The gold standard for emergency roadside assistance, the AAA ERS switchboard receives about 30 million SOS calls for help from motorists stuck along a roadway somewhere in any given year. This summer, AAA expects to rescue 7 million drivers across the USA. This number could soar higher during summertime, with a AAA survey revealing that 4 out of 10 American drivers are unprepared for emergency breakdown situations. AAA members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance. 

A breakdown on the roadway shoulder could have deadly consequences. Two persons were killed in recent days while on the shoulder or the median of interstates in Northern Virginia. “Each year close to 3,000 people die” as a result of crashes that occur “on the shoulder or median of the road,” according to Mississippi State University. “Sometimes, these fatal accidents begin with a simple breakdown that forces the vehicle off the road.” Be aware of the “Moth effect.” It is the theory that drivers and motorcyclists have a tendency, like moths drawn to a flame, to gravitate to or steer into the blinking lights of vehicles stopped, stranded, or stalled on the side of the road or on the shoulder of the road, including emergency vehicles and police cruisers.

If your engine stalls, conks out or overheats on the highway, get to the right-hand shoulder of the road as soon as possible, or pull off at the nearest exit and call for help. Never stand behind, beside or in front of the stalled vehicle on the shoulder of the interstate or highway. If you can’t get off the road in a breakdown situation, don’t get out the car. Don’t try to repair your vehicle on the shoulder of the interstate.

“All good things must come to an end.” The proverb dates back to Chaucer. Time is fleeting, and today is last day to take advantage of free 40-point vehicle maintenance inspections at AAA Car Care Centers. The free six-week offer, which began before Memorial Day, officially ends at the close of business today. A breakdown on the highway during July Fourth can prove ruinous to your vacation. It can also wreck your budget. Consumer lose tens of billions of dollars each year due to faulty or unnecessary vehicle repairs. Is it any wonder motorists have “trust issues” when it comes to auto repair shops. Two out of three U.S. drivers do not trust auto repair shops in general – citing overcharges, recommendations for unnecessary services and poor past experiences for their lack of confidence, according to a survey by AAA.

On the high end, the average auto repair bill across the United States is reportedly $2,588.56. That is according to data generated by Audatex, which provides statistics to insurance companies and auto repair shops. Yet that’s far higher than AAA’s estimates. The average repair cost in the District of Columbia is $1,747.05, the Audatex survey shows. Just across the state line in Maryland the average auto repair bill comes in at $2,272.04. This compares to an average repair cost of $1,927.35 in Virginia.

 Then there is the labor costs for the professional mechanic, which averages $1,032.66 across the USA, the Audatex survey says. Labor costs averages $738.82 in the nation’s capital. In terms of labor costs, the average mechanic’s bill is $938.38 in Maryland, and an estimated $789.73 in Virginia, on average. Because auto repairs are so expensive and so vexing, motorists should make every effort to find a shop with convenient hours, quality parts, and good service, plus a garage that is noted for making timely repairs.

In contrast, a recent survey by AAA shows the average repair bill is much lower, and is actually somewhere between $500 and $600. Despite this, 64 million American drivers would not be able to pay for an unexpected vehicle repair without going into debt, a recent survey by AAA revealed. Although an average repair bill can set a driver back up to $600, the cost can soar higher when a vehicle has been poorly maintained, explains AAA. AAA found that one-third of U.S. drivers – 75 million motorists in total – have yet to find a trusted repair facility, leaving them vulnerable when trouble strikes. Motorists only have a little time left before they embark on their holiday road trips to schedule a vehicle maintenance inspection at AAA Car Care Centers in the Washington Metro area, including the following. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment.

AAA Car Care Insurance & Travel Center Locations in the Washington Metro Area

Here are the top four reasons that U.S. drivers do not trust repair shops: (1). Recommending unnecessary services (76 percent of drivers). (2). Overcharging for services (73 percent). (3). Negative past experiences (63 percent). (4). Concerns that the work will not be done correctly (49 percent).

Yet the AAA survey also reveals, the majority (64 percent) of U.S. drivers have singled out an auto repair shop that they do trust, suggesting that consumers have prioritized finding a reliable mechanic in an industry with imperfect reputation. AAA urges all drivers to identify a reputable repair facility well before one is needed. Today, more than 300,000 Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified repair professional work in the auto repair industry, explains AAA Mid-Atlantic.

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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