AA: Breakdown cover vital this winter

Thursday, 20 November 2008 12:00

The AA is promoting the importance of breakdown cover as worrying statistics are unveiled showing millions of drivers are left stranded without it.

According to the AA, £120 million has been lost in the last 12 months by drivers playing so-called roadside roulette.

This is two million people who, to save money, are gambling they won't need breakdown cover. When their vehicles break down, they are forced to fork out three times the price of basic cover to organise emergency one-off assistance.

The AA is issuing the warning on the eve of the peak "breakdown season" - as winter sets in, the chances of breaking down increase for drivers.

Andy Taylor of the AA said: "It might seem tempting to save a few quid now and gamble that your car will carry you through the downturn without crunching to a halt - but driving without breakdown cover is like roadside roulette."

He added: "Battery and tyre problems and mishaps with keys cause a third of all breakdowns and can strike at any time, regardless of the age type of car. Driving unprotected is just not worth the risk."

Membership to the AA costs from £29 per month for the minimum level of cover. The organisation has an average call-to-arrival time of 40 minutes and its service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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