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.