|
DENVER (Dec. 3, 2019) – Last week's whopper of a winter storm was one for the record books. More snow dropped on the Front Range than in any storm in more than three and a half years. It was the single snowiest November day since 1994. And, as it turns out, it sparked the single busiest period in AAA's century of service to Colorado . All told, AAA Colorado fielded nearly 10,135 calls for emergency assistance between Wednesday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Dec. 1 – a 66 percent increase over the Thanksgiving travel period in 2018.
That spike in call volume was caused by both the storm's severity and its timing, with snow blanketing the state during Colorado's busiest-ever Thanksgiving, by traveler volume.
Dead batteries and sliding and crashes resulting from treadless and under-inflated tires represented the majority of calls. All told, hazardous storms and inclement weather are a factor in half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to national research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
"It's a privilege to serve the people of Colorado, especially when winter conditions present significant challenges -- and our work directly keeps people safe," said AAA Colorado spokesman Skyler McKinley. "For Thanksgiving this year, we were grateful we could help everybody make it to their destinations safely, although we had no idea we'd be helping so many."
During severe winter conditions, AAA Colorado prioritizes calls from members stranded in dangerous situations -- leading to longer service times in some situations, especially for requests for service from vehicles disabled at home. Moreover, emergency assistance vehicles are only able to rescue stranded motorists on open, maintained roads. For faster service, AAA members can request service through the AAA Colorado app.
About AAA Colorado
More than 695,000 members strong, AAA Colorado is the state’s greatest advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 60 million members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services — as well as member-exclusive savings. A not-for-profit organization since its founding in 1923, AAA Colorado has been recognized as the number one Colorado company its size for its advocacy, community engagement, and corporate social responsibility efforts – and is a proud member of Points of Light’s “The Civic 50 Colorado,” recognizing the 50 most community-minded companies in the state. For more information, visit AAA.com.
|
