Vehicle breakdowns in the United Kingdom are projected to jump by approximately 20% on Monday compared to typical late-June levels, as a rare red weather warning takes hold across England and Wales.
The RAC, the country’s largest motoring organization, expects the spike in callouts to persist as temperatures soar, placing additional strain on roadside assistance networks and transport logistics.
The Met Office has issued the rare red alert ahead of extreme heat engulfing central and southern England and Wales later this week.
The warning underscores the severity of the weather event, which is expected to push temperatures to levels that can cause significant mechanical stress on vehicles, particularly older models and those with compromised cooling systems.
In response to the deteriorating road conditions, the AA has advised motorists to expect gritters on the roads.
The deployment of gritters during a heatwave is an unusual measure, aimed at preventing asphalt from softening and deforming under the weight of traffic and high temperatures.