Albertans may be used to the cold but after warmer than average temperatures the past couple of winters, the current deep freeze the province finds itself mired in is seeing some drivers forgetting common guidelines to follow in the wintertime.
“It’s been a very busy last couple of days,” Randy Loyk, manager of technical services with the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) said Wednesday.
When asked if the number of calls are setting new records, Loyk said he couldn’t say but acknowledged the membership organization’s phones are ringing off the hook.
“We have not had any winters to speak of for the last two years, so of course people have left their cars ill-prepared for the cold temperatures. So yes, we are starting to see some very high volumes coming into the call centre.”
According to Loyk, the call volumes build as the day goes on but on average, it’s taking AMA employees a little over two hours to get to members who are having problems with their vehicles.
READ MORE: Cold weather wreaks havoc on Calgary vehicles
Watch below: The cold weather in Alberta can be pretty tough on vehicles, especially if they’re not plugged in. As Gary Bobrovitz reports, waiting for a boost took a lot of patience on Dec. 6, 2016.
Based on forecasts, the current cold snap is not even half over, so Loyk offered some tips to drivers to help with the top four kinds of calls his organization is receiving.
1- Needing a boost
“Let’s start plugging in your vehicles. Very important, plug in your vehicle.”
2- Needing a tow
“Make sure that your fuel tank’s running with a full tank of fuel. Don’t run it down close to empty because if you do run into situations on the road, you don’t want to run out of gas.”
3- Having tire problems
“Make sure that your tires are in good shape and that the air pressures have been checked.”
4- Being locked out of your vehicle
Loyk also warned that AMA employees say many drivers who experience problems with their vehicle in the cold also do not dress warmly enough for the conditions because they assume they’re just going from a warm home to a warm car and don’t prepare for the possibility of getting stuck in the cold.
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