AA reveals 10% rise in number of call-outs

MOTORWAY BREAKDOWNS have increased significantly in the first four months of this year and a large number are because of vehicles running out of fuel, according to the Automobile Association.

The shortage of service stations on the motorway network and the price of fuel are the two main reasons for the 10 per cent increase in call-outs to the association, according to its director of consumer affairs, Conor Faughnan.

“Fuel has obviously become seriously expensive this year, which is hurting us all” and a lot of people “are tempted to run low”, he said. As a result, 11 per cent of motorway breakdowns are because motorists run out of fuel.

The AA has about 140,000 call-outs a year and motorway call-outs are a small but increasing number, running at about 12 every week.

The figures, a comparison of the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2011, list the top 10 causes of breakdown with the highest at 28 per cent for tyre/wheel problems, followed by 11 per cent for running out of petrol or diesel and engine-related problems account for 8 per cent of call-outs.

People frequently commented that “they can’t afford to refuel until payday. Also there is still a shortage of service areas on the network,” he said.

On some sections of motorway such as where the N9 splits from the N7, Mr Faughnan said there was “60 to 70km of motorway with no service area”.

He joked that when travelling to Waterford, motorists need to make sure their “tank is full and bladder empty”.

The M50 at 49.25km in length carries 110,000 vehicles every day and is the busiest motorway for breakdowns. It clocked up a 10.5 per cent increase in call outs in the first four months of this year. The 90.7km-long M1 from Dublin to north of Dundalk has the second-highest number of breakdowns and they increased 21 per cent this year.

The M7 from Naas to Limerick at 185km long, in third place for call-outs, reported a 10 per cent increase from last year. The 61.9km-long M4 from Lucan to Mullingar and the 143km M8 from Dublin to Cork are also in the top five.

The AA has had numerous discussions with the National Roads Authority about the provision of service areas. The NRA had originally planned 12 on the motorway network on a public private partnership basis but funding collapsed with the recession.

There was a “marvellous new motorway network” in place but the lack of service areas or safe rest areas for motorists was potentially dangerous, the AA said.