Easter breakdown chaos to hit UK roads ~ station of gear

Five breakdowns every 30 seconds expected over Bank Holiday weekend with battery faults top of the list

2017-04-12 16:30

Easter weekend road trips are expected to cause havoc for drivers with five breakdowns estimated every 30 seconds, with battery faults the most common cause.

Breakdown provider Green Flag predicts there will be almost 60,000 call outs over the Bank Holiday weekend as drivers travel the length and breadth of the country to visit friends and family.

The 57,659 breakdowns causing delays and disruptions will be made up of more than 12,000 battery breakdowns along with 6,000 tyre related issues and a further 2,000 clutch related problems.

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Green Flag is also predicting 14 drivers every hour will lock their keys in their own vehicle while 13 drivers an hour will be caught out by filling their tank with the wrong fuel.

To help avoid unwanted delays, drivers are being advised to check vehicles before setting off including making sure fluids are topped up, tyre pressures are correct and that your breakdown cover is valid. On top of that it's recommended to keep a mobile phone and battery charger in the case of an emergency.

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Nick Reid, head of automotive technology at Green Flag, said: "It's Easter and the last thing families want to worry about is their car breaking down when there are Easter eggs to be eaten! The roads will be extremely busy, so it's no wonder that a high number of breakdowns are predicted to take place, however the majority of these breakdowns are avoidable.

"We're expecting over 5,000 more flat or faulty battery-related breakdowns this Easter, so urging people to ensure their car has been fully checked before hitting the road."

Top 10 breakdowns this Easter

	Cause of breakdown	Number
1	Battery	12,358
2	Tyres	5,664
3	Clutch	1,953
4	Alternator	1,770
5	Keys lost/locked in car	847
6	Misfuel	782
7	Fuel pump issue	518
8	Immobiliser	494
9	Power steering	453
10	Engine failure	64

Are you heading away this Easter? Let us know how you'll prepare for your road trip below...

Joe Finnerty

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