Drivers hit hard in big freeze

18th January 2009

The big freeze has led to a record number of breakdown callouts.

Rescue service the AA reports it had nearly 18,000 UK calls on 5 January, the day most people returned to work after the Christmas/New Year break.

It was the highest figure for six years, and there were nearly 3,500 more than on the same day in 2008.

emperatures had dropped as low as -10°C on the night of 4 January. “Icy conditions and cars sitting idle for longer due to the extended holidays caused it,” a spokesman explained. “We found plenty of frozen locks and washer bottles, as well as dead batteries.”