We tell you how roadside assistance is working during this lockdown period. Especially in relation to garage services, dedicated to essential vehicles.
The new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has almost turned us into people with a single topic of conversation. It is hard to talk about anything other
than the evolution of the virus and how it is affecting our sector. At the Red de Auxilio en Carretera (REAC) we are keeping a very
close eye on any news to do with the management of the crisis. Our vice-president, Estela Villalobos, spoke a few days ago to Canal Sur Televisión to explain the dramatic situation facing the sector, which could not be more paradoxical.
Why? For the simple reason that, despite being recognised as an essential service by the Government—which is why it continued its work during the fortnight in which the economy was halted—it is not receiving enough state support. Support that is vital to deal with the ERTE furlough schemes, so that companies can survive while carrying out work that, as Villalobos has said, is “indispensable”. You can listen to what she said here.
How are tow trucks working?
Although the fall in traffic since lockdown began on 14 March has been spectacular, it is also true that after the “hibernation” period there has been a small rebound in car traffic. On 15 April there were 71.5 % fewer light vehicle journeys than on an equivalent day. As for heavy vehicles, they travelled 30 % less than on the same date in other years. Remember that the reduction in traffic the previous weekend had been 84 %.
Despite the light traffic, assistance companies and the tow truck service remain on the front line, hibernation or no hibernation. Fulfilling their obligation. The coronavirus has brought with it the recommendation to travel by private vehicle, to avoid public transport, where the chance of infection is higher.
This means that roadside assistance is serving, as always, all vehicles, light or heavy, private or essential. With one nuance:
- A tow truck will assist a vehicle making a journey, whether or not it falls within the permitted cases (if the journey is not justified, the person will subsequently have to face the corresponding penalty). The tow truck operator may carry out minor interventions (punctures, minor faults such as a battery change…), although if the vehicle that has suffered the mishap needs a more substantial repair, it will be sent to a pound or to the owner’s home.
- Garages are only available for essential vehicles such as medical, agricultural and public transport vehicles or those used by the state security forces.
Provided there is a prior enquiry to the emergency telephone numbers to see whether they can be attended to on an exceptional basis.
During this period of confinement, the situation of garages has varied. Depending on their specialisation or clientele, some remain open part-time (if there have been staff restrictions), and others are closed until the state of alarm ends. That is why it is so important to make this point, especially for customers with private vehicles, who will have to wait until the end of lockdown if they need a major repair.