MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Members of the AAA Automotive and Roadside Rescue Teams will be available for live or taped interviews as they prepare drivers for the holiday weekend. Contact Leslie Gamble at (405) 488-7611 to schedule.   

May 15, 2019– Nearly 43 million Americans will start their summers on a high note with a Memorial Day weekend getaway. The long holiday weekend, marking the unofficial start of summer vacation season, will see the second-highest travel volume on record since AAA began tracking holiday travel volumes dating back to 2000, trailing only the bar set in 2005. Overall, an additional 1.5 million more people will take to the nation’s roads, rails and runways compared with last year, a 3.6% increase.

As Oklahomans prepare to hit the road, AAA wants to make sure their vehicles are ready. Last year, the AAA Roadside Rescue team responded to 3,828 requests for service in Oklahoma during the five-day 2018 Memorial Day holiday travel period. The most common issues for those with the AAA membership cards were flat tires, lockouts, dead batteries and other mechanical problems requiring vehicle tows.

Travelers are advised to have their vehicles inspected by trusted repair shops, including AAA Car Care, Insurance and Travel Centers at 61^st and N. May in Oklahoma City and 17^th and S. Broadway in Edmond, before hitting the road for the holiday weekend. Typically, vehicles 10 years or older are more likely to break down.

“A roadside breakdown is an unpleasant experience to start a holiday vacation, says Kevin Lynch, automotive manager, AAA Car Care, Insurance and Travel Centers. “Travelers are urged to take the time to prepare before taking off with a vehicle checkup to prevent these common roadside emergencies from delaying your trip.”

AAA offers the following tips to prepare for the kick off of summer travel season: 

• Get a AAA tune-up before you go: Take your vehicle to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance such as oil changes, fluid level checks, battery tests and tire inspections. As a bonus, AAA’s Mobile Battery Service offers free battery testing for AAA members.

• Be prepared with road maps: Use AAA’s Mobile app or TripTik Travel Planner tool to map a route for your trip. The app also provides access to member discounts, recommended trip routes and trusted AAA Travel guides.

• Get travel accessories and safety kits: Visit your local AAA office for an emergency road kit in case of a roadside breakdown.  A well-stocked emergency kit should include an extra mobile phone and car charger, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, a basic toolkit with tire pressure gauge and adjustable wrench, windshield washer solution, jumper cables and emergency flares or reflectors, drinking water, extra snacks and food for travelers and pets.

• Save on attraction tickets- AAA members can save with discounted attraction tickets to popular entertainment destinations such as Frontier City, White Water Bay, Silver Dollar City and other Branson attractions, Six Flags Over Texas, Universal Studios and Disney World as well as movie theater tickets. 

• Check the status of your AAA membership: Make sure the membership is up to date and review coverage level options to ensure lifestyle needs are met in case of a roadside emergency. Drivers should also program 1-800-AAA-HELP in their phones. For special offers on new AAA Memberships, use the promo code: "SAFETYNEW" - for current members renewing, use the promo code: "SAFETY."