Back to work breakdown blues - don't get caught out

• January 3rd 2012 is the most likely day for motor breakdowns.
• Check your car in advance before you travel

The back to work blues could become the breakdown blues for those who find their car won't start after the Christmas break. New research reveals that January 3rd – the first day of work for many people this year – is likely to be a notoriously busy day for car breakdowns.

Green Flag is expecting January 3rd to be 50% busier than an average Tuesday as people return to work after the Christmas break.

The days which fall after public holidays are when most people need help with getting their car started. The most common reason for call outs is for non-starting vehicles, mainly resulting from flat batteries.

Miranda Schunke, spokesperson for Green Flag comments: "Icy conditions and wet, cold weather means cars are far more likely to break down in winter. Batteries fail more often in these conditions, and the increased use of de-misters, heaters and windscreen wipers places an extra strain on them.

"In addition, people tend to use their cars less over the holiday period while they spend more time at home. To find that your car won't start on the first day of work can really upset your plans and feel like a bad beginning to the New Year. The advice is to carry out your checks at least a day before you travel and take the car for a short drive to make sure you don’t have any unwelcome surprises first thing on Tuesday morning."

The top ten most common causes for call outs:

Non-starts/Flat batteries
Accidents
Problems with the tyres
Problems with the drive
Electrical problems
Mechanical problems
Cooling system
Fault with the keys
Lack of fuel
Problems with the exhaust.

Avoid a breakdown this winter with these tips from Green Flag:

Flat batteries account for almost 50% of all requests for breakdown assistance.

Most garages can test your battery for you, many of them offering this service free of charge.

A sluggish start is a sign that the battery is getting old and may need replacing.

Perform some basic checks a day or two before setting out on a journey: check your brakes, lights and windscreen wipers are all working as well as checking your tyres, water and oil. Also check your exhaust and radiator for cracks or leaks.

Try to keep your fuel tank at least half full: this helps to keep the petrol line from freezing and lets you keep the heater running should you break down.

Adapt your driving style to account for the weather. Driving slower and keeping your distance from the car in front will help prevent accidents.

Keep a few essentials in the car when travelling in winter and in particular at night: a fully charged mobile phone, warm clothing, a bottle of water, torch, shovel and ice scraper.

ENDS