COMPANY car drivers stranded at the roadside will now be able to receive text messages from the AA telling them how long they will have '2 w8'. The AA is now using the system instead of phoning drivers on more than 4,000 breakdowns a day.

However, if the driver prefers, the AA will still make a person to person confirmation call. Peter Tyre, AA director of services, said: 'We've had positive feedback from our members who generally like the idea.' The AA launched a text messaging service in July for hard of hearing drivers who find it hard to communicate via phone.