Most of us with a driving licence, unfortunately, know what it's like to be stranded on the side of a busy road or motorway, broken down and watching on with envy as people whizz past in their working cars. But, assumedly, many of us in that position have not given a thought to what it must be like to work as an AA knight in shining hi-vis armour, assisting those who have broken down on Britain's roads.
Nia Dalton, a writer from our sister site The Mirror, decided to show us all what life is really like for those behind the wheels of the bright yellow vans in Bristol. Confessing that she is "clueless about cars" herself, Nia met up with AA roadside service patroller Nick Powell for a shift to see what sort of calls came in and what we're all doing wrong.
Handing her a hi-vis jacket, Nick told Nia: "People will be so relieved when they see us. As soon as they spot the yellow van with flashing lights, their faces light up."
Read more: The tiny bug that could land you with a £500 car repair bill
Here's how Nia's shift as a roadside recovery responder went.
The first job
As our first job pops up the tablet, Nick explains: "No two days or breakdowns are the same. There is such a huge variety because every car and person is different." I learn that changing flat tyres is his most common task, as well as retrieving keys locked inside vehicles.
"Being on the motorway can be really dangerous, even a basic job like changing a tyre," he says. "If it's on the offside where the traffic is flowing, it can be very daunting but you've just got to be aware of your surroundings."
It takes us 15 minutes to get to the man whose Toyota won't start on the roadside. "I've been on holiday for two weeks with my family," he explains, as Nick tries to kickstart the battery. In no time at all, he gets the car running, but the driver will need to get a new one fitted at the garage as it's on warranty.
A feeling of accomplishment
"There's no better feeling than getting a broken down car running again when somebody's having a bad day," Nick tells me. "Seeing the customer's reaction when you say, 'I can fix this' is the best." Soon enough, I learn more about that feeling of accomplishment when he head to our next job.
A workman has called The AA to fix his Ford Transit that won't start, and this time, it involves replacing the battery, which is a bit of a bigger job. He is relieved to see us and more than happy to wait, but I'm warned by Nick that not all customers are as relaxed.
"A lot of people get stressed. One of my last breakdowns was on the motorway and the lady's windscreen washers had stopped working," he explains. "She was crying and breathing into a paper bag, having a panic attack. Thankfully I was able to get her calm and safely back on the road."
Some of the sights Nick has seen
Nick, who is Patrol of the Year, is no stranger to getting tipped by strangers who are really thankful for his help. In fact, it's pretty common for RSS patrol to be handed cash - but it does have to be declared to a manager if it's over £50.
"Even if you're unable to fix their car, some people will tip for good customer service," Nick explains. "My most unusual tip was a lady on a farm who gave me 24 loose fresh eggs. They were well nice."
As our third call comes in for a Volkswagen Golf with a flat tyre, Nick chuckles: "One of my most memorable jobs was a lady who specifically told me she was 'in a blue dress'. When I arrived, she was dressed head-to-toe as Princess Elsa."
Another time, he recognised the person's name as a Liverpool footie player, and he's dealt with many millionaires with flash cars too. "One guy didn't just have one Bugatti, but four of them. I've fixed a lot of Porsches also," Nick says.
Simple mistakes cost lives
The day is speeding by when we arrive at the next driver's location at midday, but it's no surprise to Nick who is usually back-to-back. "City centres are always busy and bank holidays. It's rare that we won't have constant calls," he explains.
My next learning curve is how to change a tyre, which Nick tells me a lot of people are doing wrong. "Lots of drivers don't know how to use the jack correctly," he says, demonstrating. "It needs to be high enough that the wheel spins off the ground."
As I pump the lever up and down, he talks me through what a lot of the British public often forget to do - and the simple mistakes that could cost lives. "It's so important to keep on top of your car maintenance and general checks," he explains.
"You should have a quick check of your tyres and under your bonnet once a week." I'm surprised that it needs to be done that often - as I definitely don't myself - but I understand how it can really prevent accidents.
"If you're going on a long journey, you should be checking your tyre pressure, oil levels, coolant and screen wash before," he continues. "Make sure to pack any medication you may need, a drink and a blanket in case of any delays."
"And if you do breakdown, it's vital to get out of the car, if it's safe, and away from moving traffic. Then ring your breakdown cover and tell them your location," he says. Nick advises using The AA app or what3words to explain where you are.
"If you aren't signed up to The AA, they can do it over the phone. You get unlimited callouts," he adds. One guy that lives near Nick often calls him out to fix his old Mercedes. "I've been to him about five times. It's his pride and joy and he won't get rid of it," he says.
After the tyre is successfully changed and I've broken a sweat, we head out on another call to a Ford Transit with a flat battery. "You need an NVQ Level Two in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair to be qualified," Nick tells me.
"But I think the most important quality is to be a good people person. It's our job to calm drivers down before we fix their car." Nick, who is a dad-of-two, explains that different seasons come with different problems. During summer, cars tend to overheat, and in the winter, lots get stuck in the mud or snow.
Typically, he'll end up responding to around 10 calls a day and spends most of his time alone - but he can call for back-up if he needs it. At 4pm, we head to a white Citroen Berlingo with a flat tyre and Nick predicts what's happened with just one look at the van.
"I bet he hit the kerb too fast and the tyre has split," he tells me pulling up - and he's right. It's another young man whose all-too relieved to see our yellow flashing lights arrive. Within 15 minutes, the tyre is changed and we're heading back to part ways.
Handing over my illuminous high-vis to Nick, I make a mental note to start checking my tyres and bonnet weekly, and I feel far less stressed about the prospect of breaking down. I've even learnt a few car brands along the way.
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