16 June 2001: A report by J D Power and Associates shows that the RAC is the 'most satisfying' roadside assistance organisation when dealing with emergency calls in the UK. The verdict was given by over 4,000 UK motorists who called for emergency assistance and represented an 11-point improvement to 118 points.

The RAC is the only roadside assistance organisation to have improved its performance in every year of the study. The AA improved its performance from 1999 and 2000, when it was the highest-ranked provider, but the RAC improved more rapidly.

Of 28,748 owners surveyed, 4,139 required the aid of a roadside assistance organisation during the first two years of vehicle ownership. More than two-thirds of the sample pay for their own cover, the remainder receiving cover paid by the car manufacturer.

Among male drivers, engine and other mechanical problems are the two most common causes of call out, whereas among women drivers, engine problems and flat tyres are reported as the two most frequent problems. Women motorists are twice as likely to call for assistance with a flat tyre as are their male counterparts. However, females consistently report a higher rate of fixing the vehicle than males, regardless of the type of problem. BB