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.

Friday is officially the first day of FALL! I AM SO EXCITED FRIENDS! Are you excited? Liste, there are so many different kinds of fall activities to participate in around the Capitol District and I’m so ready to get going. My niece is now 3 so she’s old enough to actually enjoy some of them. The only thing left is making sure that  

Here at Destination Nissan, the prices are dropping like the temperature! We have some pretty excellent new vehicle specials that will have you FALLing in love! You’ll find offers for $0 down lease and super low payments for those who qualify! We also have the new Destination Nissan Pull Ahead Program which will WAIVE up to 2 months of payments and the $395 Disposition Fee if you lease a new Nissan now! Those are some pretty awesome deals!

So if you’re a big fan of fall like I am and are looking for a larger vehicle to fit the perfect pumpkins your family picked, check out the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder S 4X4 with $328 due at signing, and $328 per month with a 36 month lease, the 2017 Nissan Rogue S All Wheel Drive which can be bought for just $20,998 or $258 per month with a 36 month lease! Maybe you’re looking for something on the smaller side with a quality cargo space? Check out the 2017 Nissan Altima 2.5 S which can be bought for just $16,998. Any of these options would be perfect and have PLENTY of room to fit a whole family of pumpkins!

Do you love looking at foliage?! What better way to enjoy nature’s beauty than behind the wheel in the supremely comfy seats of the 2017 Nissan Sentra which is $0 down lease, and the CRAZY low price of $168 per month with a 36-month lease! Or perhaps if you’re looking for a more permanent arrangement, you can now buy the 2017 Nissan Maxima S for $288 due at signing and $288 per month with a 36-month lease!

So if you’re looking to make like a TREE and LEAF your old car behind, stop by Destination Nissan!  We’ll get you hooked up with a sweet deal that will make the change of season even more beautiful!

*All specials expire on 9/30/17 see specials page for full details.

If you’ve never had a close call with a tire popping on you, count yourself lucky. It can be an extremely jarring experience! Navigating yourself out of that situation is only half of the battle though. The other half comes in when you need to actually change your tire. I know that when I was a new driver I wasn’t sure how exactly to change a tire, and I wasn’t sure that even if I did, I had the tools I’d need to change the tire. For those of you out there who want to be prepared in the event of a tire change, below we’ll provide info on the supplies you will need and the steps to take to change the tire.

Things you’ll need: Spare tire, Tire Jack, Lug Wrench, and Wheel Chocks

1. Make sure your vehicle is on a flat surface. NEVER change a tire on an incline or hill; always seek a flat surface, even if it means driving on a flat tire. Once you are on a flat surface, use bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks to block the wheels at the opposite end of the car from the end that is to be raised to secure your vehicle.

2. Remove the wheel cover. You can use a screwdriver to pry the wheel cover off by inserting the point of the tool where the edge of the cover meets the wheel, and apply a little leverage. The cap should pop off. You may have to do this in a couple of places, as if you were prying the lid off a can of paint.

3. Loosen the lug nuts SLIGHTLY. Don‘t remove the lug nuts completely; just get them loose enough to remove by hand after you jack up the vehicle. If you’re having trouble, a hollow pipe and a cross-shaft wrench can loosen the tightest lug nuts. If you have alloy wheels that are held on by lug nuts with delicate finishes, the delicate aluminum or chrome-plated lug nuts need careful handling. They should never be loosened or replaced with power tools that can scratch the delicate finish.

4. Secure your jack under your vehicle. Use your owner’s manual to identify where these areas might be depending on which tire needs to be replaced. Jack up the vehicle about 6 inches off the ground.

5. Take the lug nuts completely off by hand and put them in a safe place — inside the wheel cover or hubcap works well. Grasp the flat tire with both hands and pull it straight toward you. As you pull the flat off, it should slide along the bolts until it clears the end of the bolts and you find yourself supporting its full weight. Roll the flat along the ground to the rear of the vehicle to get it out of the way.

6. Lift the spare onto the lug bolts. Remember, tires tend to be quite heavy so use caution when lifting so that you don’t hurt your back.

7. Replace the lug nuts and tighten them by hand as tight as you can get them. Wait until the car is on the ground before you tighten the lug nuts all the way with the wrench.

8. Replace the wheel cover or hubcap. If your car has wheel covers with a delicate finish, the owner’s manual should provide instructions for replacing it. If your car has hubcaps, place the hubcap against the wheel and whack it into place with the heel of your hand. Cushion your hand with a soft rag first so that you won’t hurt it. And don’t hit the hubcap with a wrench or hammer — you’ll dent it.

Ta da! You did it! You changed your tire and are able to safely drive away. Make sure to stop by Destination Nissan as soon as possible following replacing the tire, as spare tires are not meant to be driven for extended periods of time. We will happily hook you up with some new tires! While you’re there, check out some snow tires to be ready for the incoming winter weather!

Shout out to my children of the 21st century! We have scarcely known a time when cellphones and the internet weren’t binding us all together like brand new velcro! We are almost compelled to stay connected at all times. As such developments in technology needed to happen to enable us to stay connected in a safe and fun way. How did Nissan accomplish that, you might ask? WELL, with NissanConnect℠ you can stay connected even while on the road.

NissanConnect℠ provides a multitude of navigation, security, and entertainment options so that you aren’t missing out on anything and you can still stay focused on the road. No more distracting phone perilously balanced in one hand while the other hand steers the car. Voice command technology from NissanConnect℠ is one of the many ways keeping your connection safe! All you have to do is hold on to the talk button on your steering wheel to activate Siri® to use Apple CarPlay. With this system, you can play your music, open maps and more from your touch screen display. Now with NissanConnect℠, staying safe and connected can be accomplished together.

You’ll have a variety of entertainment options for you and your passengers with any of your music from your smartphone, plus movies, sports, weather and more. With Bluetooth® streaming audio, Pandora® and iHeartRadio, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio and SiriusXM® Travel Link®, you’ll be able to find the right fit no matter who is in your car.* With apps like Facebook® and Twitter, plus advanced voice recognition technology that lets you send a text or make a call without picking up your phone. Safety is key and now NissanConnect℠ is unlocking the possibilities!

While staying connected to the outside world is important, you will also be able to stay connected to your car. NissanConnect℠ allows you to manage your vehicle with remote access features, and stay on top of maintenance with vehicle health reports and service reminders.* Should you find yourself in a sticky situation NissanConnect℠ can get you the help you need with its emergency response services. It would be hard to not drive with confidence with NissanConnect℠  and its suite of digital alerts and remote access features, available across three packages, and Services powered by SiriusXM®.

Choose a Nissan vehicle with the NissanConnect℠  option package that’s equipped with Mobile Apps and take your digital life wherever you may roam. Come visit us at Destination Nissan today; we can show you NissanConnect℠ technology in action on the Nissan models we have.

Fall is coming, friends. Do you know how I know? Two simple things 1: the air’s crispness level is currently at fresh apple. BREATHE IT IN! It’s magnificent. Thing 2: 2018 Nissan LEAF is “falling”, or more accurately, premiering on TODAY!!! I AM SO EXCITED! Fall was already my favorite season, warm sweaters for cool days with a cup of hot tea, but with the arrival of the new LEAF, I am even more excited than before! With the glorious crispness of fall, perhaps you are looking for an excellent fall activity? Taking inspiration from the 2018 Nissan LEAF, and something that can be done while driving the new LEAF is one of my favorite fall pastimes! Leaf peeping! Particularly around New York’s Adirondack and the Catskill Mountains. If you haven’t been, you really should! We do, however, need to have a serious sit-down chat about leaf peeping etiquette.

For those of you who are unsure what leaf peeping is, leaf peeping is the act of going out into nature by way of a car or long walk to experience the glorious change of the leaves at the beginning of the fall season. Often leaf peepers will be seen wandering back roads with cameras to photograph nature’s beauty. Now, my issue is not with leaf peeping. As I said, I myself, enjoy peeping some leaves. My issue is the way in which the other peepers of leaves, peep the leaves. For this reason, I feel that there are some ground rules we need to establish. The changing of the seasons is truly a beautiful thing to behold, but we can enjoy the sites without causing safety hazards and general agitation for other drivers.

Below you will find a list of leaf peeping dos and don’ts. These tips are here to help you enjoy nature’s beauty to the fullest without making your fellow drivers nuts!

Tip 1: DO NOT drive 10 miles an hour in a 30 or 40 mph zone. Honestly. I get it, sometimes you want to slow it down and experience leaves in a leisurely pace. However, by driving that much slower than the speed limit, you are more than likely to create an agitating situation for your fellow drivers. Instead, DO pull off to the side of the road. Often in wooded areas with trails, you will find designated spots to pull off and park so that you can walk around and enjoy the leaves at your own speed.

Tip 2: Time it right. Typically, peak foliage season in Lake George begins during the first week of October. However, prime leaf peeping times change year-to-year, you can expect to see brightly colored leaves through the second week of October or even the third week of October!

Tip 3: DO NOT pull over on main roads, especially where there is little or no shoulder area to park on. This is hazardous for not only you but other cars who may not be able to see your car before it’s too late. Be cautious where you park and try to stay within designated parking areas.

Tip 4: DO NOT park or stop on someone’s lawn or property to look at leaves. I’m a bit surprised that I actually have to say this, but it happens at my house with a surprising frequency. Be respectful.

Tip 5: Have fun! This is a beautiful time of year so enjoy it, particularly while riding around in the new 2018 Nissan LEAF!

If you’re looking to vastly improve your fall experience, try experiencing it through the 2018 Nissan LEAF! Remember it’ll be making its first appearance TODAY! So be sure to check it out! You will definitely FALL in love!

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!

Some of my favorite memories with my family were spent on the road for a family adventure. Fortunately for me, those trips happened pretty often. The most memorable trip being with my great-grandmother, grandmother, and great aunt on a drive from Albany, NY to Colorado. It took us 7 days to get there because we only drove 4 hours each day and we needed to stop at every single rest stop on the way! It was QUITE an adventure, but fortunately, we had plenty of car games to play while on the road. Below are a few games that we played!

#1: Buzzword
At the beginning of your trip, hand everyone 10-20 paper clips (or anything else small, cheap and not delicious) and choose a buzzword.  After that point, that word is banned. If anyone in the car says that word, whoever catches them shouts “BUZZ!” and gets to STEAL one of their paper clips or other precious items. Whoever has the most of the selected item wins.

#2: Twenty Questions
This game is a classic! It’s pretty straightforward and is easy enough for children, even the little ones to play. Players take turns choosing a person, place, or thing. Everyone else has twenty “yes” or “no” questions to try and guess the word and whoever gets it right chooses the next word. Try to come up with a word no one can guess. But it has to be a REAL word. Grandma, I’m lookin’ at you.

#3: Would You Rather?
Would you rather eat nothing but broccoli for 1 year or have to walk ONLY backwards for 1 year? Jump into shark infested water or walk through a hallway of spider webs? Take turns making up absurd scenarios and having your fellow passengers answer them. Get weird with it! You will learn a lot about your friends.

#4: Counting Cows
When I was very small I lived in rural Connecticut. I can’t stress enough how very rural this area was so counting cows was a very popular thing to see on our car rides. If, however, you live in a less cow infested area you can pick something you plan to see a lot of during your drive such as cats, mailboxes, gardens or McDonald’s restaurants. Compete to see whether your chosen object appears more on the left or right side of your car.

#5: Expert
This is one of my favorite games. For 10 minutes, each person gets to be the expert on a topic of the other passenger’s choosing. None of the info you say has to be true, but you need to say it with confidence. Get funny. Be silly. That’s the best part!

#6: The License Plate Game
First, coming up with the list of 50 US states is a challenging game in an of itself. Once you get that ready you’re ready to play! Every time you see a car from a new state, cross it off your list. The game might start out easy, but try spotting an Arizona plate in New Hampshire! Hint: trucks often have tags from far-off states.

#7: The Alphabet Game
Here’s your sign. No really. Start by finding a sign containing a word beginning with the letter A. Then comes B, then C, and so on. Who will spot the word Xylophone? Or Quit? Or Zoo? Who’s to say!

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!