According to AAA, more than 35 million of us will hit the road this Fourth of July weekend. What’s more, the group maintains that we’re in for a bumpy ride. AAA says if this Independence Day is anything like last year’s, its employees are in for a busy weekend rescuing us from travel troubles.
Way to jinx us AAA.
According to the group, July 4th is the single busiest day for emergency roadside assistance calls with an average response rate of 520,000. That’s more than a half million stranded motorists calling AAA to help them.
The leading cause of car problems: battery trouble, followed by overheated vehicles (thanks in large part to towing boats and ATVs) and flat tires.
The bottom line, according to AAA workers, is that travelers don’t plan well enough for summer road trips. For example, if you are driving at 75 mph while running the air conditioning on max and towing a 3,500-pound trailer on a scorching hot summer day, you shouldn’t be surprised if your vehicle overheats. A better plan is to separate long hauls into shorter increments to let your car’s engine cool between legs.
In addition, AAA travel experts suggest that you take your vehicle to a mechanic before heading out on a long road trip. Have the technician tune-up your vehicle and make sure the oil is fresh, the fluids are topped off and the air conditioning solvents are in good working order.
You should also brush up on your driving skills in order to save money on gas and spare your vehicle from excessive wear and tear. Take note all you speed demons who consistently accelerate and then brake suddenly; driving sensibly can save serious cash. Did you know that rapidly accelerating and braking reduces gas mileage by a third? Break your bad habit and you’ll boost your fuel economy by 5% in the city and 33% on the highway.
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