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If you’re like me you never fill up your gas tank all the way, but even us half tankers have to fill it up all the way sometime, right? Well, then you know that when you fill up the tank the machine will automatically make a clicking noise when it is full, indicating that your tank is full. But what do we all do? We continue to fill up until it clicks off again to get a little bit more gas. But not so fun fact, that is not actually a good thing to do. While you may be tempted to add a little more gas to your car to round off your dollar sale- even at the risk of overfilling the tank-this is one instance when you shouldn't go with the flow. Topping off your gas tank isn’t just bad for the environment, in the case you spill, it is also bad for your wallet. Because the gas nozzle automatically clicks off when your tank is full, topping off can result in you paying for gas that is fed back into the stations’ tank via the pump's vapor recovery system, which prevents gas vapors from escaping into the air and contributing to air pollution. In fact, topping off might even foul up the mechanism and cause not only a gas-pump failure but also a potential air-pollution problem. Evaporation from spillage of gas that overflowed from you putting too much gas in your vehicle contributes to bad-ozone depletion and is harmful to breathe in. You also need some wriggle room in your gas tank to allow the gasoline to expand, otherwise, the additional gas could evaporate into your car's vapor-collection system and damage it, leading to a vehicle that runs poorly and has high gas emissions. So next time you’re at the pump and you want to add just a little extra gas to that already full tank, do yourself and the environment a favor and don’t! It could save you money and a headache down the road! Find a vehicle that is great on gas!

If you’ve ever had your engine overheat, you know it’s a scary thing. Your temperature gauge veers into the red, smoke comes out of your hood, your car stops, and you’ve got a literal hot mess on your hands. Here’s how to fix some of the common causes of your engine overheating. Your thermostat might be broken. The thermostat both tracks the temperature of your engine and regulates it by restricting coolant from going through the engine block of your car before it’s heated up sufficiently. If the thermostat is broken, it won’t open up and therefore coolant won’t be able to reach your engine, causing it to overheat. The coolant hosing is degraded. After driving your car a lot, the hoses that carry the coolant, which are usually made out of not-so-high-quality plastic, can get corroded or caked with grime, which can lead to the coolant not making it through the hosing efficiently, or at all. You’re out of oil. If your car is out of oil, you’ve got a problem. Oil lubricates and even helps cool your engine, so if you’re out of oil your engine could also possibly weld itself together, which can lead to it seizing. You really don’t want this, so make sure that your oil level is good. You should be checking your oil at least once a month anyway - so if you aren’t doing that… start doing it! Air in your cooling system. Sometimes air can get into your cooling system, even though it’s a closed system. If you get enough air in the system, it can block the flow of coolant and cause your car to overheat. The simple fix for this is to test your coolant and, yes, you might have to flush it. If you’re looking at your coolant, make sure your engine is cold - as in, you haven’t run your car for a couple hours beforehand. If your engine does overheat, you’ll want to stop driving it as soon as possible and take it to a shop or your dealer. They will be able to tell you exactly what’s going on in your engine and help you get it fixed as soon as possible. If you’re ever unsure about what you should be doing with your engine, don’t try to wing it! Your dealer will be the best source of information about how to care for your vehicle’s engine. We Don’t Take Any Heat At Destination Nissan

When you are driving in the rain, there’s a huge risk of hydroplaning that you need to be aware of and on the lookout for. The most dangerous time is when it’s just started to rain, because the dirt and oil on the road start to mix with the water before it soaks into the pavement, creating a layer of slickness floating on top of the road that can cause your vehicle to slip. This week, we’ll be talking about what to do in this weather, and how to handle your vehicle if you start to hydroplane. Keep reading! When you start to hydroplane, the most important thing you can do is not panic. Don’t brake or accelerate quickly; because hydroplaning is a loss of traction to your front tires, braking will slow your front tires but lock your rear tires, causing you to spin out. Accelerating suddenly can pull your vehicle straight forward, which is dangerous if your vehicle has spun a little and is not pointed straight down the road. It’s important to not use your cruise control when you are driving in the rain because this can worsen the effects of hydroplaning. The vehicle will register the buildup of water under your tires as a slowing-down and ask for more power from your engine. This will make your car shift to a lower gear (if you’re in an automatic transmission vehicle) and build up more water underneath your tires. Avoiding hydroplaning is simple: drive slowly in the rain (slow down by about a third of your usual speed) and make sure that your tires have enough tread. A good test to make sure your tread is good is to use a penny. Place the penny into your tire tread with Lincoln’s head facing the direct center of your wheel. If you can see the top of his head, then it’s time to get new tires. The closer you are to being able to see the top of his head, the closer you are to needing new tires. Simple! Springtime comes with increased rainfall, and we’re hopeful that you’ll drive safely and avoid hydroplaning through safe driving. Questions? Give us a call! Need Service? Check Out Our Offerings

I don’t know about you, but I can SMELL winter in the air. We’ve had some pretty wild weather the past month or so. It’s hot, it’s cold. It’s yes, it’s no. It’s basically a Katy Perry song out there. BUT, the last few days of brisk weather have me CONVINCED winter is coming. So what do you need to do to ensure that your car is ready to survive this winter? I’m glad you asked. We have a list of suggested tasks to make sure that when winter comes knocking you will be ready to answer! Lighting Winter is, by nature a much darker time of year. The sun goes down earlier and there is less daylight so if a bulb is out, fix it before winter starts. Once winter starts if there's snow covering any exterior light, make sure you remove it before setting off to drive anywhere. If your headlights are foggy or yellow, consider replacing them or look into an easy restoration kit. Battery Have a volt test performed on your battery before winter starts to make sure it's still in good working order. Cold weather means your car battery has to work that much harder just to get going. So, if it isn’t in working order, buy a new battery as soon as possible so you'll never have to worry about being stranded or left in a cold parking lot with a car that won't start. Coolant Make sure your car isn't low on coolant and that there aren't any leaks in your vehicle's engine that could cause coolant to drain out. Many mechanics recommend drivers use a 50/50-mix of coolant and water in their radiators, which usually results in a lower engine freezing point than just coolant. Tires/ Tire Pressure All-Weather Tires are great, but Winter tires are more capable of staying flexible at low temperatures. This means that they can provide improved traction when you're trying to stop and turn on cold pavement, even if there's no snow on the ground. In addition, make sure to check your tire pressure and tread regularly to ensure that your vehicle stands the best chance of staying safe out in slick weather. Defroster and Climate Control The climate control system will help keep you warm in the winter (and can help keep your windows from fogging up), while the defroster will keep your windows from icing up. Both items are crucial to maintaining comfort and safety throughout the winter. To ensure that your vehicle is in top condition, stop by our Destination Nissan service center and we'll make sure to go through your vehicle thoroughly so that even mother nature can’t hold you back from having a fun and safe winter in your Nissan! Get Your Car Winter Ready Today

I don’t know if you have to travel down 787 as often as I do, but it feels like during the summer months and into the fall, 787 is in a constant state of being under construction. This typically means that there will be a lot of traffic, and many angry people driving even more aggressively than they would have otherwise. Unfortunately, these construction sites bear the brunt of our traffic based anger and it creates an unsafe work environment and an unsafe driving environment for those of us on the road. This is why there is a distinct need to go over some construction zone safety tips to keep those working in the sites and those of us driving through the sites safe and sound. Safety professionals recommend several precautions to help make construction zones safer for everyone: When approaching a construction/maintenance situation exercise caution and slow down. Observe warning and caution signs before entering a construction zone. Observe these posted signs until you see the one that says you've left the work zone. Turn on your lights to make your vehicle more visible. Expecting the unexpected is a golden rule when traveling through construction zones. Avoid abrupt driving maneuvers. Always be aware that vehicles ahead of you may stop unexpectedly. Maintain a safe following distance. Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of construction zone accidents. Drivers should slow to the posted speed and move to the proper lane as instructed. Traffic and road conditions may dictate an even slower speed. Keep -up with the traffic flow. Obey road crew flaggers! Drivers should not wait until the last minute to merge to the correct lane. Use correct merging techniques when changing lanes – use your indicators. Narrow lanes and restricted shoulders make construction zones a common place for lane-change accidents. Regular traffic lanes are often shifted to temporary lanes and shoulders that may not provide the stability regular traffic lanes offer. Stay alert for aggressive drivers. If another motorist is aggressively jockeying for position, drivers should let them move on. Challenging another driver encourages road rage and endangers the safety of other motorists and workers in the area. Avoid distracting activities. Remaining alert for unexpected hazards is critical when traveling through construction zones. Talking on a cell phone, tuning the radio, eating, reading, or other similarly distracting activities can quickly lead to an accident. Watch for construction equipment and workers. Construction equipment entering and exiting a work zone without warning, equipment extending into traffic, and construction crews and flaggers working dangerously close to moving traffic are a few of the hazards to expect. Stay alert for obstacles and debris. Construction equipment, signs, and barriers may be located close to the edge of the roadway. Debris from work projects, especially dust, dirt, and gravel, may cause added disruption. Be patient, cautious, and courteous. Remember, the work zone crew members are working to improve the road and make your future drive better.’ While taking extra precautions is extremely helpful and even important while navigating construction zones, it’s always good to have the extra help from safety features like Nissan Intelligent Safety Shield® Technologies which is available on Nissan vehicles like the 2017 Nissan Altima, Rogue, and Sentra. To test drive any of these vehicles, stop by Destination Nissan today! “Road Safety near Construction Zones / Road Works.” Arrive Alive, www.arrivealive.co.za/Road-Safety-near-Construction-Zones-Road-Works. Check Out Our Inventory of Vehicles With Added Safety Features

Ok, friends. Girl Scout, coming through. When it comes to being prepared for things, I am usually pretty well equipped to handle anything that might happen. The downside is that I typically carry around a purse that can comfortably fit a small child. BUT, I am prepared. You can imagine how stocked up my Nissan Rogue is. I have that bad boy packed up to the point that I could very likely survive the zombie apocalypse. So, if you’re looking to amp up your emergency kit in your car, here are a few helpful suggestions of things you may want to consider! Sanitation Baby wipes. Bar of soap. Store in a zip-top bag or soap box. Disinfecting wipes. Feminine protection. Hand sanitizer. Keep the bottles in a quart-size zip-top bag to avoid leakage. Plastic tablecloth. Small box of tissues. Toilet paper. Keep a 4-pack handy; remove the cardboard tubes and flatten. Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss. Travel sizes make these easier. Trash bags. Zip-top bags in different sizes. Sustenance Almonds. Applesauce/fruit cups. Dried fruit. Dry cereal. Energy bars. Choose high-calorie options; they’re lightweight but provide the calories you’ll need in a small dose. Hard candies. Jam/jelly cups. Jerky. Peanut or other nut-butters in foil packets. Shelled sunflower seeds. Sports drink, premade or a mix. Trail mix. Make sure there’s no chocolate (which would melt in high temperatures). Tuna packs. Whole wheat crackers. Survival Bandanas. Binoculars. Bug repellent. Collapsible nylon bag or small backpack. Duct tape. I’ve never met a problem duct tape couldn’t solve. Emergency radio. Solar- and battery-powered is preferable. Extra batteries. Make sure you have all the sizes of batteries your emergency supplies need Fire-starters, such as waterproof matches, flint or a Blast Match, which shoots sparks with three times the heat of a standard match. Fleece blankets. They are toasty warm and super easy to store. Floppy cotton hat. For both fashion and warmth! Glow Sticks. These are both practical and just a lot of fun to play with, even as an adult! Hand/foot warmers. Heavy-duty trash bags. High-quality first-aid kit. LED flashlights and/or headlamps. Maps. Your phone battery COULD die at some point and you don’t want to be lost out there! Medications. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Claritin. Anything you may need that can be stored up. Just make sure you keep track of expiration dates. Face mask. Moleskin. Multi-tool/Knife. Paracord. 50 yards, or more. Paracord is a lightweight nylon, general purpose utility rope. Rain ponchos. Reflective emergency blanket/sleeping bag. Shoelaces. Small pair of scissors. Small shovel. Sunblock. Survival and first aid manuals. Tarp. Walking shoes for each member of the family. You’re welcome. Water filter. The Life-Straw is my personal fav, but you do you. Water. A case of water bottles or cleaned 2-liter soda bottles, refilled with tap water, and tightly capped. These bottles can be reused. Vehicle Maintenance Car Jack A variety of wrenches, including a lug wrench Spare tire Wheel Wedges Jumper Cables Security Battery-powered fan. Books on CD, paperbacks. Cash, coins. Power outages also take out ATM machines. Having cash for gas, a restaurant meal or hotel room might put you ahead of those who only have a debit or credit card. Deck of cards. Disposable camera. This could be very helpful in documenting a car accident, license plates, injuries or storm damage. Emergency phone numbers on a laminated card. Foam ear plugs. Inspirational or motivational book. Lip balm. Pepper spray. This is good bear spray if your travels take you through bear country. Sanity Small journal/pen or pencil. Whistle. These lists may seem a bit intense, but SO ARE EMERGENCIES. Surprisingly all of these things actually fit in one of those opaque, under-the-bed bins, which fits perfectly in the back of my beautiful Nissan Rogue from Destination Nissan. I try to keep a running list of what’s in there and when it expires so that my supplies are up to date in the event of an emergency. You never know! Is the Nissan Rogue Right For Your Emergency Kit?

This has been a rainy summer. Like, it feels almost unusually rainy. On several occasions I found myself driving down a back road wondering what could have possibly possessed me to think that this was going to be a good life choice. PRAYING that my tires made it out of this game of driving Russian roulette. Inevitably I would JUST BARELY make it out of there, say to myself, “Man, I’m never going to do that again” then immediately forget and 100% do it again a few days later. Because I clearly like to test fate, I’ve decided that it would be a good idea to learn how to get out of a muddy situation, should my car actually become stuck. As of now, the odds of getting stuck on some back road are looking pretty good. To make things more interesting, my friends and I go camping up at Lake George periodically, and I promise you, this is where I will meet my end. My car has been too lucky in the camping grounds so far, and I can feel my luck running out. It’s time to get a plan together. As far as I can tell there are a few options to get yourself “unstuck”. Below you will find the basic steps you should take in the event you find that you are stuck in the mud, or in the winter months, snow. Step 1: Stay calm. I know the sense of panic that can take you over when you feel like your car is stuck. You may be tempted to floor it in an attempt to get out of there. Unfortunately, this only makes matters worse. It’s better to keep your cool and come to a complete stop before making any hasty decision. Step 3: Politely ask your passengers to get out and ensure they are a safe distance from the vehicle. As it turns out frantically asking passengers to get out of the car really only creates chaos. With the weight of the car now reduced it should reduce the chance of the vehicle sinking further into the mud. Step 4: Avoid wheel spin. Your car has a better chance of moving if the tires have some room to maneuver so turn the wheel to the left and right to create a little space. Step 5: Push gently on the accelerator and move as slowly as possible, using the weight of the vehicle to get some traction. I am talking about an actual snail’s pace friends. For automatics, put the car into its lowest gear; for manuals, use the highest possible gear (2nd or possibly 3rd) and gently release the clutch. If that didn’t get your car out of the mud then it’s time to move on to plan B! Attach a board to your tires. Now, I can imagine the horrified looks on your faces as I tell you this, but really it works! Things to keep in your car so that you can perform this magic trick: 2 pieces of wood, sticks, something that can be attached to the tires that are relatively small, but thick enough to create some traction, and some rope or ties that can be used to attach the board to your tires. Attach the pieces of wood to the tires so that the wood will be across the tire when the wheel rotates. Make sure you attach the piece of wood very well. It will need to be tight for it to work. Once attached you can SLOWLY accelerate and the board should allow you to move forward, albeit slowly, but you’ll be moving. Finally: Check the car. Once you have escaped by whichever means was necessary, it’s best to check out your car to make sure that it hasn’t sustained any damage. You never know. So if you want your vehicle more thoroughly checked out, stop by Destination Nissan and they will be happy to make sure your car is working in tip top shape! Stay safe out there! Stop By Our Service Center Today

When I was first learning how to drive, cell phones were just starting to be a thing. They were set up like a regular house phone with buttons on it. Real buttons. If you wanted to text, which was another mind blowing concept, there were only 10 buttons. This means that you had to actually click the “1” button 3 times to get the letter c. Texting took a lot of focus, and SO much time. For this reason, texting and driving wasn’t something that was exactly convenient, or safe. That didn’t stop people from doing it, however. It was exciting to be able to be constantly connected with friends, so gradually, the practice did become more popular. As you can imagine, texting and driving was the cause of a number of accidents. As technology advanced, touch screens became available and texting became easier, and unfortunately so did texting and driving. While it became easier to text and drive, it didn’t get any safer. At no point in time should you be taking your focus off of the road ahead, no matter how cute that cat video is, and I promise you it probably is super cute. We want to be able to say, hey, just wait to read the text till you get home, or wait to answer that phone call when you get home, but the fear of being left out is pretty strong. Over the last few years, texting and driving has become an all out epidemic. In response, a number of pretty awesome apps have become available to provide a middle ground between our need to stay connected and the laws of the road serving to keep us safe. At Destination Nissan you have the option to get NissanConnect, an “integrated audio, navigation, and communication system that connects with your smartphone to enhance your driving experience, and help minimize distractions. Controlled through a dash-mounted, centrally located screen, NissanConnect is available with hands-free calling and texting, streaming audio, navigation, a collection of popular smartphone apps, and lots more.” If your vehicle isn’t equipped with NissanConnect, you can also check out these apps to keep your driving focused and safe. 1. DriveSafe.ly: Instead of completely blocking your incoming messages, DriveSafe.ly actually reads your text messages, calls or emails aloud. By reading to you, the app eliminates that urge to grab your phone and take your eyes off the road for a split second. Best of all, it automatically responds to recipients for you (with a pre-set response) or allows you to respond by voice, totally hands-free. 2. DriveScribe: It’s about time we were rewarded for safe driving. DriveScribe's app measures and evaluates your driving performance by giving you points, based on how well you stay within the speed limit and obey traffic signals. Users can redeem points for gift cards and discounts at certain stores. If you are interested in your driving patterns as well, the app tracks distance driven, average speed, maps of routes driven and descriptions of your violations (if any). 3. Text-STAR: Part auto-text responder, part digital personal assistant, Text-STAR aims to get you where you need to go without any distractions. Able to sense motion, the app disables texting when you drive 10 mph or more. It also allows you to schedule auto reply texts in advance, if you plan to be busy at a later time, whether you are driving or doing something else. * Driving is serious business. Only use features when safe to do so. App availability is dependent upon vehicle model, trim level, packaging, and/or options. See NissanUSA.com/connect for complete app availability details. Never program while driving. GPS mapping may not be detailed in all areas or reflect current road status. Compatible smartphone required. Cellular network and GPS signals not available in all areas and/or at all times. Technology is evolving, and changes by independent companies are not within Nissan’s control. Nissan is not responsible for associated costs that may be required for continued operation due to cellular network termination (including equipment upgrades, if available, or roaming charges on alternative networks) or other third party changes. Should a third party provider terminate/restrict service, service may be terminated without notice and with no liability to Nissan and its agents or affiliates. Subscription Agreement required and terms and conditions of Subscription Agreement apply. See www.NissanUSA.com/connect for details. Text rates and/or data usage may apply. Get Connected Today

Picture it, Albany 2009. Freshly graduated from Albany High and my 18-year-old self felt on top of the world. I had just left home after showering to get ready for dinner with my parents. As was typical for me, I was running late so I was making a strong attempt at putting winged eyeliner on in the car on my way. The music was blaring, It was my new favorite Beyonce anthem “Single Ladies” so naturally, I was scream singing at the top of my lungs. My hands were busy applying a perfect wing so I was driving with my knees (a healthy blend of sorcery and stupidity). When the car in front of me stopped fast for a kid who sprinted across the road to grab a basket ball, everything that followed happened so fast it’s almost a blur. I dropped my eyeliner, grabbed the wheel, slammed on the brakes and swerved the car to the right….right into a shrub. The front of my car was all dented and a bit crunched, but other than a quick glance I didn’t really look at the car. Fortunately, I didn’t hit the other car, the other car didn’t hit the kid and everyone was totally fine...except that shrub. RIP Shrub. I went up to the door of the person who’s lawn I just accosted to apologize for the shrub and offered to pay for the damage as it was 100% my fault that I hit the darn thing. I then proceeded to drive my car the remaining 40 minutes to the restaurant for dinner with my parents. After dinner, my parents saw my car and I, unfortunately, had to tell them what happened. My dad went over to the car to actually look at the thing and noted that part of the underside of my car had gotten loose when I hit the shrub and was dragging on the road the 40 minutes to the restaurant. He then tells me that I probably should have called to get my car towed, but because I was young and foolish, I was more concerned about getting to dinner on time. This little accident cost me about 4 grand. It would have only been 2 grand if I didn't drive the darn thing to the restaurant. 2 grand is still a HUGE chunk of change, but it’s significantly cheaper than the 4 grand I had to come up with. Which, by the way, I just finished paying my parents back for. Now, already there are several bits that need commenting on. As you can tell, when I was a teen, I was not exactly a cautious or even safe driver. I made SO MANY unsafe choices and very likely should have died at least 10 times. At least. Since then I have learned from my mistakes and I like to think I am a safe driver these days, but it was rough for a bit there. What have we learned, thing 1: a perfectly crisp winged line can not and should not be accomplished in the car. Leave the makeup for home. Thing 2: driving with your knees is LITERALLY NEVER a good idea. Keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. And lastly, if you get into an accident, it’s better safe than sorry and have your car towed than end up with double the damage and cost you would have had if you just towed your car. Be safe out there, friends. Think before you drive. If you were in an accident and need a trustworthy place to get your car checked out, stop by Destination Nissan and we will get you back on the road! Get Your Vehicle Back On the Road Today

So you’re taking a back road home. This is the kind of narrow back road that has absolutely no business being a two-way road, but here we are, praying that you remain the only car on this road. Alas, you are not that lucky. A truck is coming your way and there is a pothole right where you need to drive if you want any hope of avoiding that truck. Your options are to hit the pothole or hit the truck. For a brief minute you consider hitting the truck...it would probably cause less damage than hitting that darn pothole. You come to your senses just in time and hit the pothole, hard. You hear it, a vague crunch. You aren’t sure where, but you are positive something happened. So now comes the soul crushing part. The part where you need to check your car to see if anything was damaged. You hope that the crunch was merely gravel or a gentle scrape on your vehicle. A gentle scrape would be nothing to worry about. So fingers crossed you begin to search. What are you looking for you might ask? Well, below are a few things you should 100% check out. Tires: Here’s the thing about your tires, they are SUPPOSED to be the only part of your car that makes contact with the road. Potholes smash that dream into a thousand tiny pieces...sometimes literally. A potholes’ jagged edges can wreak havoc on your tires so if you see any bulges, tread separation or flats be sure to get those issues taken care of immediately.  Keeping tires properly inflated can help with this a bit. Wheels: Much like your tires, the wheels to which your tires are attached will feel the cold and angry force of a pothole. Wheel damage looks like bends, chips, or cracks in the wheel itself. Fun fact about a bent wheel: it is no longer a round object. I may not know a lot about wheels, but I do know that if it’s not round it’s not rolling. Be sure to have the wheels checked out for hairline fractures that might not be as easily visible as chips or bends. Suspension: Perhaps you enjoy the invigorating feeling of having your car violently shake every move it makes? If not, and you’d much rather a smooth ride in which you don’t feel like a mixed drink, you will appreciate all that your car’s suspension does for you. It takes the impact of the road and provides a nice smooth ride. A few things that a pothole can really mess up with your suspension including misalignment, broken ball joints, and damaged shocks or struts. You should 100% have a qualified mechanic from Destination Nissan check these issues out for you. Exhaust: Your exhaust pipes are basically sitting ducks when it comes to potholes. Potholes will take these guys out without any remorse. Deep potholes can cause your car to bottom out and tear up your undercarriage which, I promise you, will ruin you exhaust pipe’s day. What’s worse, a leaky pipe can let exhaust fumes into the cabin, posing a potentially serious health hazard. Again, get that checked out by a professional. Risking your health isn’t worth it. Body: The thing about cars that are lower to the ground is that, while they handle much better than most, they will inevitably fall victim to potholes lurking around every corner. It’s not their fault, it’s just how they are built. In addition to the issues listed above that require attention to be able to drive safely, a pothole can mess up your nice, new polished vehicle’s crisp appearance. While it won’t affect performance, it can be a real bummer when you have a nice car. The good news is that MOST potholes aren’t big or deep enough to pose a threat to your car. With correctly inflated tires and aligned suspension, chances are it will roll right through them. However, as seasons change and potholes grow, you need to stay alert and avoid them as best you can. If you don’t, you risk expensive car part repairs and replacements. If ever you feel like your car has been damaged by a pothole you can stop by Destination Nissan’s Service Department and we’ll be happy to thoroughly check your vehicle to make sure that it’s safe to drive. Check Your Vehicle For Pothole Damage Today

Ok, so we’ve all had that parking lot experience where you have wanted to scream and cry because there was no parking anywhere at the mall, grocery store, movies, or wherever. You have circled the lot 30 times with no end in sight and then, like a beacon in the night, some beautiful soul starts to walk back to their car and you all but stalk them on the way back. When they start to pull out, you think you’re going to make it, and then some dingus pulls into the spot you have been patiently waiting for for around an hour by now. At this point, you are ready to rip the hair from your head. I think that we have all been there in one form or another. In light of our shared nightmarish experience, I thought it would be a good idea to go over some simple parking lot etiquette that we should all strive to follow. It will make the world, or at least your local Hannaford a more pleasant place. DO drive slowly through the parking lot. This is not Grand Theft Auto, you don’t get points for hitting people in the parking lot. You do, however, go to jail. So maybe don’t speed around parking lots. DO signal if you plan to take a parking space. I usually love a good guessing game, but friends, I’m not a mind reader and can not tell where you intend to go without those sweet little signals. DO NOT take a spot that someone else is signaling for. I feel like this should be an obvious one, but, as it happens all the time, let me reiterate. IF SOMEONE ELSE IS SIGNALING, THAT IS NOT YOUR SPOT. DO NOT park too close to another car. I am 100% pro cuddling, ok. That is great. DO NOT cuddle your car up to my car. No one wants that. No one. DO NOT park across multiple spots. Just don’t do it, man. Come on, we get it, don’t touch you. But like, taking up all those spaces and messing with the natural order of the parking lot is not going to enact a protective barrier around your car. Please, pick 1 spot. DO NOT park in an electric vehicle charging spot. That’s just a jerk move. Don’t be a jerk. People need that spot. Unless you have an electric vehicle, don’t do it. DO NOT block someone’s trunk or tailgate. So if you’re at a grocery store, it seems fairly obvious that they will, upon returning to the car need to access their trunk. Maybe don’t block that. That sounds like a good plan. DO NOT pull your car so far into the parking space that the space appears to be free. Here’s the thing friends, there is nothing more soul crushing than thinking that a space is open, only to realize that it’s just a CRAZY small car. The light literally leaves my eyes. Please try to keep your vehicle visible. DO park if you don’t want your car hit or scratched and want to keep it safe, rather than taking up 4 parking spots(I have seen this done and honestly it’s excessive) you can park farther off it the lot so that people will leave your car alone. DO NOT park unevenly. That’s why the lines exist guys. To show you where your car should go. It’s like coloring in the lines, I know that we can do this. DO back out slowly. I don’t know what it is about parking lots, but every time I go to pull out there is a random small child sprinting behind my car. SO, pull out slowly. Save a life. Accidents happen, but taking safety precautions can help to reduce those numbers. Stay safe and be respectful! Make Safety Easier Today