THE SUSTAINED COLD WEATHER MUCH OF OUR REGION HAS SEEN CAN TAKE ITS TOLLS ON OUR VEHICLES. TRIPLE A AUTOMOBILE CLUB IS REPORTING AN INCREASE OF 34 PERCENT IN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CALLS FOR HELP AND PREDICTS FURTHER INCREASES AS THE FRIGID WEEK CONTINUES. BATTERIES ARE ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT THE WINTRY WEATHER CAN PLAY HAVOC WITH. ACCORDING TO TRIPLE A MID-ATLANTIC SPOKESWOMAN KRISTIE HELMICK, JUST BECAUSE YOUR BATTERY MAY HAVE ENOUGH CRANKING POWER TO START YOUR CAR ONE DAY, IT MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO START IT AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY. FOR EXAMPLE, AT ZERO DEGREES – A CAR’S BATTERY LOSES ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF ITS STRENGTH, YET THE ENGINES THEY MUST START NEED ABOUT TWO TIMES MORE POWER TO START.