THE AA may have to franchise out part of its breakdown and recovery service unless patrolmen accept more flexible working practices to meet increased demand.

The association is polling patrolmen over whether they are prepared to adopt a new system which will cope with peaks in demand more efficiently. The organisation currently spends several million pounds annually paying garages to provide extra cover to meet different peaks as driving patterns change but if the patrolmen refuse to change their hours, this additional cover could be franchised out.