As commuters gear up for what could be a construction nightmare on Interstate 5 through downtown Seattle this month, police, mechanics and tow truck companies are gearing up as well.

But whether it's the I-5 project or construction across the pass, a car breakdown in bumper to bumper congestion can leave you with expensive towing and repair charges.

Here are three things you can start doing right now to avoid an even bigger headache.

Road service crews across the region are gearing up for both the nightmare of navigating the construction mess, as well as all the broken down cars they'll have to rescue in the mess.

"People are quite often not prepared. their automobiles are not prepared to sit in traffic," said Chris Gray, a technician and fleet supervisor for AAA Washington.

Gray says one of the most common problems is people running out of gas. It's human nature, he says.

"You're trying to get to a gas station and you know where you're going and you're not planning on getting stuck in stop and go traffic," he said. "But as a result of the traffic being stopped, you run out of gas and find yourself with people honking at you and people upset about you blocking the traffic and it's something you really want to avoid."

Solution? Keep you gas tank as full as possible. Don't let the tank get below half-full.
Another common problem is electrical malfunctions.

"One of the things that happens in stop-and-go traffic is you're using a number of accessories and that puts a large load on the electrical system," said Gray.

Idling in stalled traffic can drain an already-weak battery or cause other problems if your electrical system is not in tip-top shape.

Solution? When driving in construction congestion, minimize your use of electrical accessories. If you find yourself barely moving in a long backup, turn off the air conditioning, turn off the radio.

Finally, the third most common reason for congestion breakdowns is overheating.

"The engine loses its coolant, for example, and overheats due to that. Or some mechanical device fails and overheats due to that," Gray said.

A poorly-maintained engine increases your chances of an overheating episode.

Solution? Check under the hood and make sure everything is in order. The coolant, the power steering fluid, the fan belt and the oil.

"Take it to a shop and have them check that for you and make sure it's up to snuff," said Gray.

As common sense as all that sounds, AAA said about 75 percent to 80 percent of the breakdowns on the road end up being quick fixes that could be avoided with routine maintenance and a full tank of gas. That's three out of four broken down vehicles!

And remember, if you let things go until your car breaks down, you'll not only have higher repair bills, but you'll also get stuck with towing charges, not to mention the wrath of all the angry drivers stuck on the road behind you.