PRESS RELEASE
Severe Weather Strands Record Number of Motorists, AAA Says
8 April 1997
Severe Weather Strands Record Number of Motorists, AAA Says
ATLANTA, April 8 -- AAA came to the aid of stranded motorists
a record 29.7 million times in 1996 -- an 8 percent increase from 1995.
Much of the demand was caused by severe weather, such as cold snaps, heat
waves, snow storms and heavy rains.
"Harsh weather is brutal on cars and trucks and can strand even the most
careful motorist," said Marshall Doney, vice president of AAA Automotive
Services.
This is the sixth consecutive year the number of motorists assisted by AAA
has increased. Since 1990, the annual number of calls to AAA has risen nearly
40 percent.
Growth in membership also contributed to the increase, as AAA surpassed
the 39-million-member mark in 1996.
"We constantly upgrade our emergency road service capabilities," Doney
said. "We've streamlined our dispatch process and improved our service
provider network to meet the growing demand for emergency road service."
AAA provides emergency assistance to members through a network of
club-owned fleets and 12,946 service contractors who operate 37,269 service
vehicles -- the largest such fleet in North America.
In 58 percent of the calls to AAA, the vehicle was able to be serviced at
the location of the breakdown without being towed.
The ability to get so many motorists back on the road quickly contributed
to AAA achieving a 91 percent overall satisfaction rating from members who
received emergency road service," Doney said.
Vehicles that would not start prompted 28 percent of the emergency calls
to AAA.
"Failure to start is most often due to a problem with the battery or
electrical system and usually occurs in extreme heat or cold," Doney said.
Other reasons AAA members required emergency assistance included
lockouts, 14 percent; flat tires, 11 percent; and out of fuel, 1 percent.
Miscellaneous problems, such as members in need of extrication and winching,
accounted for 4 percent of the calls.
Details of AAA's emergency road service program were presented to
1,000 delegates at AAA's 94th annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.
AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 99 motor clubs with more than
1,000 offices providing more than 39 million members in the United States and
Canada with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.
With more than 39 million members. the American Automobile Association is
the largest motoring and travel organization in the world. AAA's more than
1,000 affiliated club and branch offices are located throughout the United
States, and Canada. AAA, a fully tax-paying not-for-profit organization,
offers a wide range of member services and works for the improvement of
motoring and traveling conditions.
SOURCE American Automobile Association
CONTACT: Jerry Cheske or Mike Morrissey of American Automobile
Association, 407-444-8000
