CARS.COM — Vehicle technologies intended to make drivers' lives more convenient are inadvertently resulting in greater numbers of motorists stranded on the roadside, according to a just-released report by AAA. The travel-services giant said it came to the aid of 32 million drivers last year, an all-time record, with flat tires, lockouts and dead batteries continuing to be the most common problems.
Related: AAA Issues Plea to Automakers: Spare the Spare
Vehicles less than five years old led the pack when it came to tire and key-related issues. The AAA study cites the proliferation of smart keys and stop-start ignitions, and the elimination of the conventional spare tire, as the primary contributors in these incidents. AAA for years has been publicly campaigning for automakers to continue offering spare tires as many instead are now opting for weight-saving alternatives like fix-a-flat kits and run-flat tires, neither of which, it contends, are sufficient in all flat-tire situations.
"Additionally, new keyless ignition systems can drain the battery life when keys are stored too close to the vehicle and can lock a driver out of the vehicle while the engine is still running," the report stated.
Fuel range indicators, according to AAA, are having the ironic effect of increasingly resulting in more motorists being stranded on the roadside with an empty tank.
"Despite nearly all new vehicles being equipped with low-fuel warning alerts and range estimations, a higher proportion of drivers are using these systems to push the limits between fuel-ups," the report stated.
What's more, because of complicated electronic components in modern cars, vehicles less than five years old had to be towed to a repair facility in one out of five breakdown situations.
To avoid needing emergency roadside assistance, AAA offered the following tips:
- Purchase a vehicle that comes with a spare tire and, if it doesn't, consider adding one as an option.
- Check your car's tires at least once a month to ensure they are properly inflated and have them rotated per the manufacturer's recommended schedule.
- Never leave smart keys and keyless-entry fobs in the car, avoid exposing them to water and replace them according to the automaker's recommendation.
- Start having your battery tested annually after three years.
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