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The top four reasons for roadside breakdowns—and what to do about them

1. Tires
Tires cause more than 50 percent of roadside breakdowns, according to Jon Morrison, president of WABCO Holdings’ Americas Business Unit. However, most of those breakdowns are preventable, according to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Only 15 percent of tire failures result from sudden damage, while the rest stem from slow leaks. To help prevent roadside breakdowns and extend the life of your tires, they should be properly inflated. Tires that are 10 percent underinflated cause tread life to decrease by 9-16 percent.

2. Batteries
Battery failure is one of the most common incidents requiring emergency roadside assistance. However, most Americans have never had their battery tested before their vehicle failed to start. Battery terminals should be inspected for corrosion whenever a vehicle is being serviced, and batteries should be checked annually after they have been in use for three years.

3. Keys
You may feel embarrassed if it happens to you, but a key locked inside the vehicle is still one of the most common reasons people call for roadside assistance. To prevent this mishap, Consumer Reports recommends keeping a spare key on your person, with someone who can rescue you or hiding a magnetic key case underneath the vehicle.

4. Mechanical failure
Many roadside breakdowns occur because of minor problems, but each year a significant percentage of calls for roadside assistance are due to potentially dangerous mechanical issues related to the engine, transmission or brakes. You can also receive automatic alerts when one of your vehicles suffers a transmission malfunction or engine problem. This can help you identify and address issues before they become critical and coordinate repairs when a system fails.

Source: Networkfleet/blog. October 12th 2016.

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