Leslie Gamble
Manager, Public & Government Affairs
O: (405) 753-8040
C: (405) 488-7611
Leslie.Gamble@aaaok.org
Mark Madeja
Senior Specialist, Public & Government Affairs
O: (918) 748-1074
C: (918) 935-9318
Mark.madeja@aaaok.org
Nov. 22, 2019 – Nearly 50 million travelers are making plans to hit the highways and byways this Thanksgiving holiday season with a trip of 50 miles or more away from home. This will be the second-highest Thanksgiving travel volume since AAA began tracking in 2000, trailing only the record set in 2005. Unfortunately for some motorists, the busy travel week will include inconvenient and potentially dangerous roadside vehicle breakdowns, adding delays to plans to get to Thanksgiving dinner. AAA is expecting to rescue 368,000 motorists nationwide during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period. Over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period*, AAA Oklahoma’s Roadside Rescue team is projecting it will come to the aid of 2,466 stranded motorists in the Sooner State. Dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts will be the leading reasons drivers will experience car trouble. AAA recommends motorists take their vehicles to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out on a road trip. Checking battery charge, checking tire tread and pressure, and ensuring other key vehicle systems are road trip-ready can help avoid breakdowns and lost holiday time with friends and family. AAA offers these tips to drivers who experience trouble along the way:
Not all breakdowns can be prevented, but routine vehicle maintenance is the best way to avoid being stranded along the side of the road. “AAA recommends motorists use a simple checklist to determine their vehicle’s fall and winter maintenance needs,” said AAA Oklahoma spokesperson Leslie Gamble. “Many of the items on the list can be inspected by a car owner in less than an hour, but others should be performed by a certified technician.” Fall/Winter Car Prep:
Vehicle owners should read the maintenance requirements set by the car’s manufacturer in the owner’s manual. There is no longer a “standard” maintenance schedule for vehicle services – including brake fluid. Each automaker has different requirements, making the owner’s manual the most accurate resource. In-vehicle maintenance reminders provide good guidance because they account for real-time problems and how you actually drive. However, many reminder systems do not specifically cover maintenance operations that need to be performed on a time or mileage basis – such as brake fluid and coolant flushes or timing-belt replacement. Those planning to travel should check weather and road conditions before leaving home. Drivers should also keep an emergency kit in the vehicle with items including:
Many of the winter emergency items listed above – plus pre-assembled multi-item kits including the 64-piece Traveler Road Kit and 66-piece Severe Weather Road Kit – are available, at a discount to AAA members, in the online store at AAA.com. |
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Leslie Gamble
Manager, Public & Government Affairs
O: (405) 753-8040
C: (405) 488-7611
Leslie.Gamble@aaaok.org