AAA Says Summer Expected to Bring 7.4 Million Calls for Roadside Assistance

    ORLANDO, Fla.--May 12, 2003--AAA, the leading provider of automotive services to North American vehicle owners, is projecting more than 7.4 million motorists will experience a vehicle breakdown during June, July and August this year.
    AAA said its emergency road service forecast for the summer driving season is based on requests for emergency road service received during the same period one year ago.
    In June, July, and August of 2003, AAA-affiliated service personnel expect to tow approximately 3.5 million cars and trucks; boost 1.3 million batteries; unlock 1.2 million vehicle doors; change 900,000 flat tires; provide fuel to 100,000 motorists that run out of gas; and extricate 50,000 stuck vehicles. Another 340,000 motorists are anticipated to require miscellaneous roadside assistance from AAA.
    "Vehicle breakdowns are an unfortunate fact-of-life for millions of motorists each summer," said Marshall L. Doney, vice president of AAA Automotive. "And, because roadside problems have the potential of occurring during much-anticipated summer vacations or in extremely hot weather, AAA strongly recommends motorists have their vehicles inspected by a qualified repair facility before they take a long-distance drive."
    AAA now has a nationwide network of independently inspected and approved repair facilities that can perform thorough vehicle maintenance checks for members and other motorists. The AAA Approved Auto Repair network consists of thousands of independently-owned shops, car dealerships and franchised repair facilities. Each of these businesses have met AAA's stringent criteria for customer satisfaction, technician training, service equipment and tools, warranties, and quality replacement parts.
    Approved Auto Repair shops are required to prominently display their affiliation with AAA, and also can be located by visiting http://www.aaa.com on the Internet, searching telephone directories, or by calling local AAA clubs.
    In many areas of the United States and Canada, AAA also is offering a mobile battery testing and replacement service at the scene of vehicle disablement. This innovative service can quickly detect and diagnose starting problems and install a new vehicle battery, if needed and requested by the motorist. For information on AAA Battery Service availability, consumers should visit http://www.aaa.com, or call their local AAA club.
    "AAA Approved Auto Repair and the AAA Battery Service represent an important shift in the way AAA is approaching road service," Doney said. "We know that when members call they want more than a tow truck. They want AAA to minimize the inconvenience of a breakdown by solving their vehicle repair problem, if possible. Both of these services significantly advance AAA's ability to be a complete automotive solution for vehicle owners".
    As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 46 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

    AAA news releases are available from http://www.aaa.com/news