AAA responded to nearly 142,000 roadside emergencies across Maryland this past summer, and the auto club says many of them didn’t have to happen.
With winter coming and the average vehicle on U.S. roads now a record 12.8 years old, AAA Club Alliance is urging Maryland drivers to use October, which it calls Car Care Month, to get their vehicles checked, according to an Oct. 14 release. The 142,000 figure counts only calls AAA answered, not every breakdown in the state.
“Many of the breakdowns AAA responds to every day can be prevented with basic vehicle maintenance,” said Ben Perricone, an approved auto repair territory manager for AAA Club Alliance. “A weak battery, worn tires or neglected fluids may seem minor now, but they can quickly become major problems when temperatures drop.”
The average vehicle age comes from S&P Global. AAA’s own research shows vehicles 10 years and older are twice as likely to leave drivers stranded as newer models.
Newer cars need less frequent service than they once did, AAA said. Oil changes may now be recommended every 5,000 to 10,000 miles or more, some transmission fluids are designed to last 100,000 miles, and many batteries are sealed. But cold weather still drains batteries, lowers tire pressure, thickens fluids and exposes weak parts.
Seven things to check before winter
- Battery. Car batteries typically last three to five years. AAA recommends testing at three years and every year after.
- Tires. Check tread depth and pressure, and replace worn tires. Cold air lowers tire pressure, so check it often. The U.S. Department of Transportation counts more than 1.2 million weather-related crashes a year.
- Brakes. Have them inspected regularly. They matter most on wet, icy or snowy roads.
- Oil and fluids. Check oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid and windshield washer fluid.
- Wiper blades. Replace blades that are worn, cracked or streaking.
- Electrical system. The alternator, starter and ignition can strand a driver as surely as a dead battery.
- Belts and hoses. Often overlooked, a broken belt or failed hose can quickly turn a trip into a roadside emergency.
“Checking critical components now can help reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and provide greater peace of mind throughout the winter driving season,” Perricone said.
AAA also urged drivers to budget for repairs, citing its research that one in three Americans don’t have the money for an unexpected car repair. AAA has more than 1 million members in Maryland.
The Chronicle reported last month on AAA’s estimate that owning a new car now costs $1,072 a month.
