The AA says that it is still busy, and dealing with a regular flow of breakdowns and requests for assistance, in spite of the fall in national traffic levels.
Call-outs on the increase
"General traffic volumes are down by between 80 per cent and 90 per cent on the roads but our breakdown workload is not. We're still busy throughout the day" says Director of Consumer Affairs Conor Faughnan. "A lot of that is essential commercial traffic and essential workers, and health service staff."
The rescue service of the AA reckons that the continued high level of call-outs is down to two factors. First, the breakdown and recovery service is currently being offered, free of charge, to healthcare workers and HSE staff, even if they are not currently AA members. Secondly, many people are currently letting their cars sit for long periods of time between use; a practice which often breeds mechanical issues.
"When you leave a car idle for a period of a week or more it becomes much more likely to refuse to start." Says Faughnan. "So we are getting a lot of calls from AA Members whose car won't respond when they want to do the weekly groceries. Even if it's nearby the car can be essential for the big shop or the run to the chemist, especially if you are in any way limited in your mobility or managing kids."
360 breakdown call-outs in one day
The AA says that breakdown call-outs have increased significantly in recent days, compared to the early stages of the lock-down. In that early phase, the AA was responding to around 150 calls per day. That has now increased to more like 240 call-outs per day on average. In particular, the post-Easter period has seen a significant increase in demand with 360 breakdowns reported to the organisation on Tuesday, April 14 and 326 on Wednesday, April 15.
"The Tuesday after a bank holiday is always a busy time for breakdowns as typically people are using their cars less over the long weekend than they normally would. So we expect a surge in demand. However, even if you were to exclude the post-Easter rush, we have steadily seen breakdowns increase in recent days compared to when the restrictions were first introduced."
However, Faughnan says that in spite of the increase in call-outs, and anecdotal evidence on social media, it seems that the vast majority of people in Ireland are still sticking to the guidelines. "AA Patrols countrywide were feeding us back information including photos of deserted beaches that would normally be full" Says Faughnan. "Irish people are being very disciplined and strongly supportive of the national effort."
Simple tips to help keep your car running smoothly
To help reduce the risk of a breakdown when you do need to go out, the AA is recommending some simple chores that will help keep your car running smoothly, including running the engine for around 20 minutes to allow the alternator to charge up the battery. "We're all using our cars significantly less than we normally would, but there's a reassurance factor to knowing that it's there if we need it in an emergency situation or need to assist a loved one who is currently cocooning. Keeping an eye on things like your battery, oil level and the condition of your tyres will help reduce the risk of a breakdown when you do find yourself needing your car," Faughnan added. "In all likelihood we're facing into a lengthy period of limited use of our cars as the restrictions are likely to be phased out in a gradual manner. However, as the restrictions ease in time we do expect a significant increase in breakdown numbers."