A Roadservice ridealong

Sometimes I think cars can sense when it’s most inconvenient to cause trouble. My last breakdown was on the way to a yoga class – not very zen energy.

Fortunately, the AA has dedicated Roadservice Officers to help Kiwis get back on their journeys. Out and about on roads up and down the country, their ears prick up at the sound of tyres deflating, doors slamming shut with keys locked inside, or the faint click click click of keys in a dead ignition.

I know how to jump start a car and could probably change a tyre if I had to – shout out to my Dad ­– but when it comes to breakdowns, I know to call the professionals. Add the fact my car is over 20 years old, and you won’t catch me driving anywhere without AA Membership.

But what do the professionals actually do? I took a ride with Auckland Roadservice Officer Rob McNeal to learn the ropes of the job.

Rob gets an alert, and we’re off on the first callout of the day. This one was urgent; a woman had accidentally locked the keys in her car boot leaving her two cats stuck inside on a particularly warm morning.

It’s an easy mistake to make and one that pops up frequently for AA Roadservice Officers.

On to the next job. Car won’t start; a classic.

Many of the AA’s callouts, like this one, are straightforward battery issues. But even after 18 years on the job, Rob is baffled by some of the situations he comes across.

He’s rescued a cockatoo from a locked car in the middle of the night. Another time, two kittens were stuck in the inner guard of a vehicle. Sometimes dogs accidentally lock themselves in by jumping on the car’s buttons.

“Once, I got the car open to free a dog and it leapt up and immediately locked itself in again.”

Just last week, someone had driven off in a campervan without winding in the awning and collected a tree with it. Rob was there to help untangle the mess, leaving the driver to make a rather awkward call to the campervan’s owner.

Back to our day on the road. A suspicious dashboard light has spooked an AA Member, so Rob and I go to check it out. A quick diagnosis sees the car referred back to its dealership. Let this be your reminder to stop ignoring your dashboard lights, folks! 

If there’s one overwhelming emotion I sense from these AA Members when we pull up, it’s relief. The yellow and white wagon approaches like a beacon and you know someone is here to help you get on your way.

As for Rob, he says he could never go back to being a mechanic in a workshop. “There’s so much variety in being out on the road helping our Members. You never know what you’ll come across.”

It’s back to the office for me, ready to flex on everyone with my shiny AA Motoring vest souvenir. Though my mechanical skills remain subpar, I do have a refreshed appreciation for the fact that next time I drive to yoga, or indeed anywhere, Rob or the rest of the AA Roadservice team won’t be too far away.

Your AA Membership covers you, not the vehicle. You are covered whether you’re the driver or the passenger, no matter what you drive or ride. Need help? Call 0800 500 222.