The most significant increases occurred in service requests for winch-out service, or assisting motorists who slid off slick roadways, a 93 percent increase; and dead batteries, a 36 percent increase.
There are after effects, too. Because of the severity of winter this year, road crews used lots of deicer on area roadways. The chemicals are corrosive and motorists should remove the residue from their vehicles as quickly as possible, AAA said. That could be done by using a car wash that offers undercarriage spray.
AAA offered these tips, too:
* Spray off wheel wells around tires.
* Open doors and wipe down all surfaces.
* Wash rubber car mats and sweep carpets to remove salt and de-icing residue tracked in on your shoes.
* Check windshield wipers. If windshield wipers were used on icy windows, they may have been damaged and should be replaced.
* Springtime is the rainy season and drivers need to check their tires to make sure they’re properly inflated and to ensure they have the proper amount of tread. Check tire tread by inserting a quarter into the tread – if the tread is touching or partially covering Washington’s head, the tire has adequate tread.
* Some drivers parked vehicles and rode out winter storms at home. Batteries should be checked for vehicles that were not driven frequently.
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