IT''S JUST ANOTHER M(ECH)ANIC MONDAY
28 February 2005 - AA

If you think that Monday mornings are only a problem for us humans then think again - cars also fall prey to the Monday Morning Blues.

Figures from the AA show that our four-wheeled friends have a real problem starting the week with the most common time for breakdowns being between 8.30 and 9.30 on a Monday morning.

The AA''s Road Operations Director, Steve Dewey says: ''Bosses should think carefully before doubting their staff who blame their late arrival on a Monday on their cars - it probably isn''t just another feeble excuse for sleeping in. Mondays are always our busiest days for breakdown callouts with seven of the ten busiest days of 2004 being Mondays. This is generally because a lot of cars have been sat on driveways or at the side of the road for the weekend and expected to jump into action on a Monday morning.''

The most common reason for breaking down was battery problems accounting for 14 per cent of all AA call outs with flat tyres responsible for another 10 per cent of breakdowns.

Steve Dewey continues: ''Faulty or dead batteries have topped our breakdown list for the past seven years. Most people wait until their battery fails before replacing it - yet batteries have a life span of around five years and should be replaced before they cause a real problem. Most of the common causes of breakdowns could be avoided with regular servicing and maintenance.''

TOP TEN AA BREAKDOWNS IN 2004

1. BATTERY 13.9%
2. TYRE 9.7%
3. KEY - MECHANICAL 3.0%
4. ENGINE 2.9%
5. SPARK PLUGS 2.8%
6. ALTERNATOR 2.7%
7. STARTER MOTOR 2.5%
8. CYLINDER HEAD GASKET 1.9%
9. CLUTCH 1.8%
10. IMMOBILISER 1.7%

The Christmas getaway and return to work were the causes of the busiest days for 2004. All of the top days for breakdowns were during winter months. Of the top ten quietest days of the year all except Christmas Day and New Years Day were Sundays. The two quietest days of the year were Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.

BUSIEST DAYS FOR AA BREAKDOWNS IN 2004

1. Monday 20 December 16,778
2. Monday 5 January 15,850
3. Monday 1 March 15,605
4. Thursday 29 January 15,568
5. Monday 9 February 15,522
6. Monday 2 February 14,519
7. Friday 19 November 14,408
8. Monday 23 February 14,372
9. Monday 26 January 13,879
10. Monday 12 January 13,683

The AA attends an average of 11,000 breakdowns every day and fixes 8 out of 10 cars at the roadside.

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