Flat batteries and flat tyres are the main reasons people call for help in Orange.

A report into roadside assistance for the year to September 2017 found there were 4114 breakdowns in Orange – about 11 a day.

That compared to 13 a day in Dubbo [4718] and just five a day in Bathurst [1964].

Flat batteries were the most common cause of Orange breakdowns [32 per cent], followed by wheels and tyres [10 per cent], electrical faults [9 per cent] and people locking themselves out of their car [5 per cent].

Orange rated 22^nd in the state for the highest number of breakdowns in NSW – well behind the worst offender Port Macquarie where 8148 calls for help [22 a day] were made.

NRMA Orange patrolman Mark Berney said the Orange region was larger than Bathurst which might account for the higher number of calls.

“It’s probably a bigger area in Orange than in Bathurst,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot more cars in the area.”

Mr Berney said flat tyres were a common complaint, particularly from builders running over nails and screws at work sites.

He said he had also had several calls to rescue children and pets locked in cars.

“In the last 12 months I’ve had three calls out at the hospital where kids have been locked in the cars.”

He said in some cases parents had dropped the keys in the car and closed the doors before they could get their children and pets out.

The report showed that statewide the NRMA received 1.2 million calls for help – an average of two calls every minute.

The average waiting times for drivers was 35 minutes while nine out of 10 times NRMA patrols got cars back on the road without a tow.

The NRMA also rescued 3767 babies and pets from cars last year.

NRMA executive general manager Samantha Taranto said that despite technological advances cars still kept breaking down.

“Regardless of how technology advances cars, it is clear there will always be a need for roadside assistance because while there are fewer moving mechanical parts in a car, they still break down,” she said.

“The average age of vehicles registered in Australia is 10 years so we know many Australians are keeping cars longer.”

She urged motorists to get their cars serviced ahead of the summer holidays.

“Nobody likes breaking down,” she said.