Cold Snap Sends Philadelphia-Area AAA Weekend Call Volume Soaring

AAA Battery Calls Up 50%; Total Call Volume Up 20%

PHILADELPHIA, PA (November 13, 2017) Delaware Valley residents were feeling the chill this weekend…and so were their vehicles. AAA Mid-Atlantic reports roadside assistance call volume, for batteries in particular, should be a reminder to all motorists to prepare their vehicles – and check their batteries – for winter weather.

AAA Philadelphia 5-County Roadside Assistance Call Volume Comparison

(compared to last weekend)

FRIDAY – Total calls (1,398) up 10 percent, battery calls (416) up 29 percent

SATURDAY – Total calls (1,608) up 37 percent, battery calls (591) up 78 percent

SUNDAY – Total calls (1,211) up 12 percent, battery calls (482) up 43 percent

WEEKEND VOLUME – Total calls (4,217) up 20 percent; battery calls (1,490) up 50 percent

Driver tips for the next cold weather blast:

• Have your vehicle’s battery checked, especially if it more than three years old. Even at 32 degrees, a battery is 35 percent weaker. At zero degrees, a car’s battery loses about 60 percent of its strength, yet the engine needs about twice as much power to start.

• Check your tire pressure. Tires need more air when it is cold. Proper cold weather tire pressure can be found in the vehicle manual or on a sticker inside the driver’s door, NOT on the tire itself.

• Prepare an emergency kit, including – deicer, shovel, ice scraper, warning flare or bright triangle, flashlight with fresh batteries, first aid kit, jumper cables, a blanket, extra gloves, non-perishable snacks and beverages, and sand or kitty litter (for traction).

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and more than three million members in Pennsylvania.  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 www.AAA.com.