Vehicle breakdowns set to soar during Easter getaway
Vehicle breakdowns are expected to soar this weekend with the RAC predicting more than 21 million journeys by car as schools break up for the Easter holiday.
It expects upwards of 4.3 million journeys on Friday and Saturday, with a further 3.7 million journeys on Thursday and Sunday.
Another one million car trips are anticipated on Monday, 7 April.
On top of this, 6.8 million additional car journeys will be staggered across the weekend.
Vehicle breakdowns
Meanwhile, further research from the RAC has revealed that 25% of drivers said they had suffered breakdowns on holiday, with punctures accounting for 19% of them.
A further 15% had alternator and starter motor issues and 13% said their vehicles overheated on long journeys.
Other common issues included problems with a vehicle’s electronic control unit (10%) and flat batteries (10%).
Low engine oil, issues with timing belts, faulty fuel systems, electrical and ignition problems and broken windows and wipers caused a further quarter of breakdowns.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “A vehicle breakdown has no place on a holiday itinerary, so the more you can do to ensure your car is in the best possible condition before you go, the lower your chances of suffering one.
“With a massive 21m journeys expected this weekend, it’s more than likely that roads to popular holiday destinations will see their fair share of traffic. These are not only tiring to endure but increase fuel consumption significantly.
“In the worst-case scenario, riding the clutch in stop-start traffic can increase wear on its components and lead to premature failure. Also, in slow moving traffic, the airflow into the engine compartment is reduced and can cause overheating issues, especially in older vehicles or those with faulty cooling fans.”
