RAC says next Monday expected to be one of the year’s busiest days
The RAC is warning drivers to make sure they don’t kick off the year with an unexpected flat battery. The organisation is expecting Monday 6th January to be one of its busiest days of the year.
The first working day after the holidays is often a ‘non-start’ for thousands of commuters as cars are left idle throughout the Christmas period.
Since New Year’s Eve falls on a Tuesday this year, the RAC expects most drivers to extend their Christmas breaks until Monday (6th January) – and that means there could be a much longer period where cars are left unused.
Households with more than one vehicle are at greater risk as many people will only use one car over the festive period, meaning the battery of the other car is more likely to go flat.
Battery issues are the number-one reason for RAC patrol call-outs all year round but experts say breakdowns increase during the winter months when cooler temperatures put a greater strain on batteries.
This is due to the increased use of the heater, lights and heated screens and seats. The RAC is advising all households, and especially those with a second car, to make sure vehicles are used to keep their batteries topped up.
It adds that drivers of electric cars should do the same. This is because these vehicles still depend on a 12-volt battery to start – and it’s this battery that can go flat.
‘A breakdown statistic waiting to happen’
‘The first working day after Christmas is typically the busiest of the year for our patrols attending drivers suffering the ‘flat battery blues,’’ says Alice Simpson, RAC Breakdown spokesperson.
‘The first day back at work after the Christmas the break is often bad enough, but it can be thoroughly depressing if nothing happens when you go to start the ignition.’
‘Cars left unused over the holidays, such as second vehicles left parked up, are often a breakdown statistic waiting to happen.’
‘Luckily, a flat battery is easily avoidable if drivers take their cars for a good run during their Christmas breaks.’
‘Electric vehicles are just as vulnerable as combustion engines because they also rely on 12-volt batteries, so it’s important to drive them occasionally and keep them charged above 20% in winter conditions.’
‘Colder weather slows down the chemical reaction in vehicle batteries, plus they have to work harder in the winter months due to greater use of the heater, lights, heated screens and seats as well as windscreen wipers.’
‘The starter motor also has to work harder to turn over the engine in the cold, so if your car is particularly slow to start then the battery could be about to fail.’
RAC advice includes driving every vehicle in your household before the start of next week to get ‘the engine up to a proper operating temperature and the battery well charged before you really need it.’
