ÖAMTC: An empty car battery is the most common cause of breakdowns

They are called when the engine is not working, the battery is empty or a tire is causing problems: the ÖAMTC breakdown helpers were called out around 300 times a day in Upper Austria last year. In total, this results in around 109,000 road calls in our state, roughly the same number as in 2023. The mobility club recorded 695,000 breakdown assistance throughout Austria.

Busy times due to cold and travel

The phones run particularly hot on cold days in winter and during excursion traffic in summer. The ÖAMTC Upper Austria recorded the most breakdowns in 2024 in January with almost 11,300 missions. The period between July and September is also prone to breakdowns due to increased travel volumes. The “Yellow Angels” then have an average of 9,700 missions per month.

Dead batteries and engine problems

The most common cause of breakdowns in summer and winter is a weak, empty or defective battery; around a third of the incidents are caused by this. This is followed by problems with the engine. Tires are the third most important reason for use. In five percent of cases, the “Yellow Angels” unlocked car doors that had been locked by mistake.

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