AAA’s record number of roadside calls came from newer cars

New car gadgets may be behind a number record roadside calls. AAA says it responded to 32 million calls for help in 2015 — 42,000 of those calls were in Idaho.

AAA’s report shows the record numbers came from cars less than five years old; indicating that advanced technologies are still vulnerable to problems.

“There’s a lot of new technology in the last five years in these cars, and a lot of it is just knowing how to operate the car and a lot of people don’t take the time to really educate themselves on the safety features and how things operate,” said Teton Volkswagen service manager Tom Warner.

With these new gadgets, the report also shows people aren’t as privy to preventative maintenance anymore. Delaying action for as long as possible, can result to more expensive repairs over something that could have easily been prevented.

“There’s no technology out there that will be better than human skill or good judgment. I mean, making sure your vehicle is operating properly is really the responsibility of the driver and the responsibility of your service department you go to,” said Warner.

For example, key fob systems can drain battery life. And in some cases, can lock a driver out of the vehicle while the car is still running.

“We don’t see that as much, its a possibility, but it’s very rare. What we see more than anything else with the key fobs and the key-less entry is a drain on the battery if the keys are left in the car overnight or for long periods of time,” said Warner.

And instead of a standard spare tire, many newer cars come with inflatable or “run flat tires;” but drivers usually push the limits of those temporary tires as well.

“It’s really about knowing the vehicle’s capabilities and sometimes just using some common sense,” Warner said.

Motorists can help prevent these breakdowns from happening. Check for a spare tire, avoid potential for lockouts, complete battery inspections, and pack an emergency kit.