By Conner Toffan

Calls for roadside assistance up as temperatures are colder

Feb 5, 2019 | 4:57 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB— With an extreme cold warning in effect overnight, plugging in your vehicle is important.

The AMA conducted a survey of 2,300 Albertans, where it was found that 70 per cent don’t plug in their vehicles at -15 degrees as the AMA recommends.

AMA Manager of Fleet Operations Ryan Lemont says that the AMA has seen a “dramatic increase in call volume,” mostly for dead batteries.

“When we see these extreme weather conditions it’s a matter of all hands on-deck,” said Lemont.

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In Edmonton, the AMA was quoting up to 72-hour wait times for non-emergency towing.

“When we see a higher call volume in our fleet territory we will actually get to a point where we start diverting our resources to focus on emergency scenarios or emergency-type towing,” said Lemont.

In Medicine Hat, Auto Spa Towing Ltd. Owner Kraig Kohls says that wait times can be between one-to-two hours.

“We’ve absolutely picked up. We’ve been ridiculous. Yesterday I basically got about three hours of sleep. And the drivers went hard from the beginning of morning til very late at night,” said Kohls.

Auto Spa Towing did about 150 calls yesterday. On a regular day Kohl says they only receive about 40-50.

The colder weather also means that taxi drivers are much busier.

“We get a lot more shorter trips but that’s because our wonderful seniors don’t want to drive in this kind of weather. It’s usually just generally going to get groceries or going to get their hairdo,” said Lloyd Harty, a Driver at Deluxe Central Taxi.

To make sure you don’t have to use the tow-trucks yourself, AMA says to plug-in your car and keep your gas tank over half full.