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Have you tried starting your car recently only to find the battery's dead? Even though you can clearly see you didn't leave any lights on?
You wouldn't be alone: AAA reports a 6.2% increase in calls for a dead battery throughout Southern California since March, when the first stay-at-home orders were issued. That's the equivalent of 75,000 more calls for dead batteries this year than last, according to Doug Shupe of AAA.
Meanwhile, all other tow service calls are down. So what's the deal? A lot more people are staying home for days on end because of the pandemic. That means fewer people getting locked out, running out of gas, getting flat tires and the like, Shupe said. But idle cars don't do well.
"When your vehicle is idle, you're not using the many functions and parts of your vehicle that are required to keep it well maintained," Shupe said.
"Many of us are sheltering in place and our normal driving routines have been disrupted. And ... while we may be driving fewer miles than usual, we still depend on our vehicles for important errands, like going to the store to buy groceries or visiting doctors or picking up prescriptions. And that's why it's so important to make sure your vehicle is in good running condition."
Here are some more tips from Shupe and AAA:
