Drivers Prepare for Holidays as AAA Plans to Save 800,000

WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. — AAA Florida hopes to help some 800,000 motorists traveling for the Fourth of July.

The agency is asking people to prepare their vehicles for road trips.

The phones are already ringing regularly at Rich’s Auto Tech in West Melbourne.

Customers are trying to prepare their cars, trucks or SUVs for a road trip as they travel during the holiday season.

“We have a lot more people coming in and trying to do travel checks,” said store owner Cody Naber.

AAA says the most common issues they service are dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts.

“We check everybody’s fluids, especially the wiper blades. It’s Florida, it’s rainy season, so we check the wiper blades a lot,” Naber said.

Naber and his team aren’t afraid to be busy, because the safety of their customers is their goal.

“Maintenance is always proactive, I tell our customers, as long as you take care of the car, the car will take care of you,” he said.

If you have car problems, authorities recommend:

• Pull over safely to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights.

• Be aware of oncoming traffic when exiting the vehicle.

• When you are on the highway, try to reach the next exit safely.

AAA also recommends having an emergency kit stocked with a flashlight, extra batteries, first aid items, drinking water and snacks for people and pets.