AAA reported breakdowns were at a record high in 2015, despite vehicle advances.
“Vehicles today are advanced more than ever, yet are still vulnerable to breakdowns,” said Cliff Ruud, AAA’s managing director of automotive solutions. “Sleek, low profile tires are highly susceptible to damage, electronic keyless ignitions can zap battery life and despite advanced warning systems, more than half a million drivers ran out of gas last year.”
In 2015, AAA said they helped a record-breaking 32 million drivers in 2015, with more battery, flat tire and key problems than ever before.
The company found that vehicles fewer than five years old experienced a higher proportion of tire and key-related issues than older vehicles, suggesting that there are unintended consequences to cars without spare tires and electronic keyless ignitions – a recent trend in new vehicles.
According to AAA, spare tires are being removed from new vehicles at an alarming rate to reduce weight and boost fuel economy, however the tire inflator kits included do not fix all flat tire situations. Keyless ignition systems also pose problems as they can drain battery life if keys are stored in close proximity to the vehicle and can lock a driver out of the vehicle while the engine is running.
To read the full AAA report, visit newsroom.aaa.com.
