Is your car ready for the cold? Dead battery calls keep AAA crews busy

The cold is keeping AAA emergency roadside crews busy.

From midnight to noon today, crews helped more than 250 drivers, most for dead batteries.

Crews are helping just as many or even more members tonight.

“It’s been pretty chaotic,” said Ron Reynolds, whose been working for AAA for about eight years.

>> Another blast of arctic air and snow is on the way

“When temperatures drop like they have the batteries don’t seem to make it so we’re out running a lot of battery calls tonight, last night,” he said.

So far, he’s responded to eight calls in four hours, and is going from one to another.

“Just be patient with us. We’ll get to you,” he said of members waiting for service.

Some people accidentally leave an interior light on, which drains the battery, or other batteries are simply too old to handle the cold.

Reynolds said when batteries reach three to five years, they need to be checked and possibly replaced.

>> Download our free WHIO Weather App for alerts and forecasts

AAA offers the following tips to make sure your vehicle is prepared for the cold:

• Make sure your tires are inflated for cold weather.  A "cold weather pressure" is typically posted on a sticker inside the driver's door. Tires need more pressure when it is cold and under-inflated tires are more likely to sustain a blow out or flat.
• Make sure your battery is strong. It takes a battery twice as much power to start a vehicle when temperatures drop below freezing.  Most batteries last between three and five years so any battery older than three is at risk.
• Stock a cold weather emergency kit. Most important is a fully charged cellphone so you can call for help. Also keep an extra charger; extra coat, gloves, hats and blanket; flare or flashlight with extra batteries so you can see and be seen, especially at night; and shovel, ice scraper and de-icer.

Got a tip? Call our monitored 24-hour line, 937-259-2237, or send it to newsdesk@cmgohio.com.