AA Roadservice officers take on Christmas challenge

19 December 2013

AA Roadservice officers take on Christmas challenge

Christmas Day provides AA Roadservice with both its quietest and busiest moments of the year.

Vehicle lockouts and cooling system problems dominate the types of callouts received by AA Roadservice on Christmas Day during two peak periods.

AA Roadservice national manager John Healy says calls from stranded motorists skyrocket at 10am.

“Our service officers receive double the usual number of calls during the mid-morning peak when people begin to set off for Christmas lunch,” Mr Healy says.

Mr Healy says the day quietens down again at noon for a couple of hours while everyone sits down for lunch.

“At 2pm our service officers are plunged back into another insanely busy two hours as motorists head off to their Christmas dinner destinations.

Mr Healy says Christmas can be a stressful time and the last thing people need are vehicle problems.

“December is an expensive month for many people so having the car serviced is at the bottom of the priority list,” he says.

“Then Christmas Day comes and the family car is laden with people, presents and luggage, and often expected to travel the longest distance since the previous Christmas.

Mr Healy says if it is not possible for people to get the car serviced prior to Christmas, it is important motorists perform their own vehicle inspection before setting off on long journeys.

“Check tyre tread and tyre pressure, including the spare tyre, and check oil and water levels. It’s also a good idea to fill the windscreen washer container and make sure windscreens are clean too.

“Motorists are anxious to reach their families so anxiety levels are at an all time high which creates an extra challenge for our service officers as they try to mobilise vehicles as quickly as possible while at the same time be a calming influence.

Mr Healy says motorists can be assured that AA Roadservice officers will be hard at work on Christmas Day, but during the peak periods, there may be longer wait times.

“Please be patient and remember that it is Christmas for our service officers too and they’re experiencing an insanely busy day.”

The New Zealand Automobile Association is an incorporated society with over one million members. It represents the interests of road users who collectively pay over $2 billion in taxes each year through fuels excise, road user charges and GST.

www.aa.co.nz

ENDS

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