RAC yesterday attended a RECORD number of vehicle breakdowns

The RAC confirmed that yesterday it attended the most single-day breakdowns in its 120-year history of assisting affected motorists.

On Monday, some 12,000 drivers were called who had problems with their vehicles, an average of eight per minute.

The roadside assistance provider blamed a “worst winter cocktail ever” of freezing temperatures, snow and ice and an increase in the number of motorists who cannot afford to maintain their vehicles due to the cost of living. .

The automobile group, which introduced its first uniformed patrols in 1901 and roadside emergency telephones in 1912, said Monday was the busiest day ever for its patrols.

It officially eclipsed the previous record number of calls it received in 2018 when the “Beast from the East” hit.

Rod Dennis, the RAC’s roadside assistance spokesperson, said: ‘We believe that two main ingredients have combined to create the worst winter breakdown cocktail ever: a sustained period of cold weather with an absence of widespread snow that would otherwise keep people indoors, and a large increase in the number of drivers who cannot afford to maintain their vehicles as well as we would like due to the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.”

RAC patrols were called out on Monday for around 12,000 drivers experiencing problems with their vehicles, an average of eight per minute

The roadside assistance provider blamed a “worst winter cocktail ever” of freezing temperatures, snow and ice and an increase in the number of motorists who cannot afford to maintain their vehicles due to the cost of living.

With the strain on people’s finances in recent months, several studies have warned that a large proportion of motorists have been – or will be – forced to postpone or cancel their car’s annual maintenance in a bid to save money. to save.

The latest poll of more than 2,000 drivers in Britain found that a third (32 per cent) are likely or very likely to skip servicing their vehicle in the next 12 months.

This could lead to more than 10 million engines on the road going unchecked by a mechanic for months, meaning they are more prone to failure.

A third of motorists save money by avoiding car maintenance: A recent survey has raised concerns that there could be an increasing number of dangerous vehicles on our roads in the next 12 months

The latest poll of more than 2,000 drivers in the UK has found that a third (32%) are likely or very likely to skip servicing their vehicle in the coming year

Mr Dennis said there has been little slowdown today in terms of the number of requests for help from affected motorists, while the breakdown patrols continue to have huge demand.

The Met Office has issued a yellow snow and ice warning for Northern Scotland and North East England from Tuesday midnight to Thursday 12 noon.

Top 10 tips for safe driving in snow and ice

Heavy snowfall in recent days has led to severe weather warnings, flight delays and numerous drivers facing chaos on everything from rural routes to major highways.

With icy temperatures predicted for the next few days, snow is likely to stick around as well.

To help you prepare to hit the snowy roads safely, here are our top 10 tips for essential checks, what to pack and how to drive in these difficult conditions.

There is also an ice warning for much of the South East, including London and Brighton, until 11am on Tuesday.

“Today remains an incredibly demanding day for our patrols, with the railway strikes likely to force even more people onto the road,” he added.

And he warned that road chaos could intensify in the coming days as temperatures remain subzero and more commuters rely on their vehicles as rail strikes continue throughout the week.

Dangerous road conditions continue this week after another major overnight freeze.

“Those who have to use more rural roads that have not been gritted will have to be very careful, postpone their plans or even give up.

Before you leave, please take the time to thoroughly defrost and demist your vehicle. We urge drivers making essential journeys to leave extra space behind the vehicle in front, reduce their speed to allow enough time to stop.

“Anyone who is still wondering whether it is worth carrying a winter emergency pack should imagine what it must have felt like for drivers who were stuck on the M25 for eight hours yesterday.

“Wearing layers of warm clothing – including a waterproof jacket -, a blanket, sturdy footwear, a bottle of hot drink and a power bank to keep phones charged are all extremely important.”