Rise in the number of roadside call-outs in 2019

A country-wide analysis of almost 130,000 AA Rescue assignments has revealed that motorists are continuing to wrangle with worn-out batteries and electrical faults, which combined caused almost one in four breakdowns reported to AA Rescue in 2019.

According to recent figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, new car sales in Ireland fell in 2019, and with more people opting to hold onto their current car for longer or buy through the second-hand market, the AA continues to see a high number of callouts with battery faults and defective tyres among the leadings causes of breakdowns.

“Over the past three years, the story of declining new car registrations has been a consistent one as more people opt to go to the second-hand market in Ireland and the UK when searching for the best value when changing their car,” said Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs.

“With so many people opting against a new car, we have seen a corresponding increase in the number of breakdowns reported to our AA Rescue team in recent years,” he said.

In total, the AA attended to over 36,500 breakdowns caused by faulty batteries and electrics throughout the year, an increase of approximately 3,000 compared to 2018.

“While conditions have been somewhat colder in recent weeks, we’ve largely avoided the stormy conditions and snowfall that we have seen in recent years.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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