One of the most frightening things that can happen on the road is experiencing a tire blowout. You can lose control of your car, and you may not know what to do when the problem occurs. If this happens to you, follow these steps and try to keep your cool.

1. Know What to Expect

If you have never experienced a blowout before, you may not know what will happen. You could hear a large bang or popping sound, followed by a whoosh of the air leaving the tire. Finally, you typically will hear (or feel) a flapping as the deflated tire hits against the road.

2. Pull Over

Continuing to drive after a blowout can severely damage the rim and wheel, so pull over immediately. Don’t hit the brakes, but coast to the shoulder and turn on your emergency flashers. Also maintain a tight grip on the steering wheel because the sudden change in pressure can cause the car to quickly pull to one side.

3. Assess the Situation

If you can safely change the tire and put on your spare in the location where you are pulled over, do so. If not, call for help. A tow truck can take you to a shop where someone can replace the tire without as much risk.

4. Avoid a Blowout

With some preventive maintenance, such as regular rotation and balance service and tire replacement, you can prevent blowouts.

Protect yourself and your passengers by knowing how to properly handle a tire blowout.

Image via Flickr by Jacob Davies

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Whether you are new to parenting or just searching for a few tips, there are several things that you should know about driving with children. Here are a few care safety tips to help ensure your children’s well-being.

Safety Seats are a Must

It doesn’t matter how old your child is if they are under 80 pounds and less than 4 feet 9 inches they need the added protection of a car seat. This doesn’t mean you have to strap your eight-year-old into a car seat, but it does mean that he still needs a booster seat. His small size needs the extra protection to keep him safe.

Never Leave a Child in the Car

Your baby is sound asleep, and you only need to run into the store for a minute, do you leave him locked in the car? Never! A child should never be left in a car for multiple reasons. For one thing, a car quickly heats up inside, and a child can overheat and suffocate in a matter of minutes! So make it a habit to check your back seat, and always take your children with you.

Remain Hands Free with Technology

Although some states still don’t have car cell phone laws, practice safe driving and keep your hands on the wheel and off of your devices. Even if you believe you are safe when using devices while driving, when you do so, you are ultimately serving as a bad influence for your children and our future drivers.

Remember, they are just children, and you are in charge of their care. Stay safe when you drive, and make sure your children are safe as well.

Image via Flickr by MIKI Yoshihito. (#mikiyoshihito)

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Summer is almost here, which means it’s time to head outside and check out the great events around the community. Albany presents many outstanding summer events that you shouldn’t miss. If you are new to the area or unaware of its must-see summer events, don’t miss these three:

Tulip Fest

Just in time for Mother’s day, visit the annual Tulip Fest on May 7th and 8th. This is a beautiful showcase of over 100,000 tulip blossoms in Washington Park. Enjoy live music, food, and of course the view of gorgeous flowers. This event is free, and people of all ages enjoy it.

Dad Fest

So you took Mom to the Tulip Fest, now what about Dad? Take him to this year’s Dad Fest on June 19 at Jennings Landing. He will enjoy the live music, drinks, and great food. Vendors will be selling treats inspired by dads. Even for the rest of the family, it’s nice just to enjoy the warm weather in a great atmosphere.

New York State’s 4th of July Celebration

There’s no better time in the summer for a celebration than the Fourth of July. This year, as in past years, everyone will gather in the plaza for food, entertainment, music, and family activities for the New York State’s 4th of July Celebration. End the night with a bang as you watch the fireworks light up the night sky in recognition of our country’s freedom.

Although there are many other events in Albany, these three are the ones you cannot miss. But don’t stop there; check out all that Albany has to offer.

Image via Flickr by ThatMattWade

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Everyone in the Albany, Schenectady, Latham, Saratoga and Clifton Park, NY areas know a trip to the Great Escape is a summer past time, and Destination Nissan is getting in on that tradition with our Summer of Fun! This month, when you purchase or lease any new or pre-owned vehicle from us at 770 Central Ave in Albany, NY, you will get two VIP Gold Six Flags Season Passes.

That means you’ll get admission to the Great Escape, admission to Splashwater Kingdom and admission to every Six Flags Theme Park in the Country! You’ll also get:

• Admission to Fright Fest
• Parking for Each Pass Holder
• Season Parking at Every Other Six Flags Theme Park
• VIP Early Entry
• Special Bring-A-Friend Free Days
• Exclusive Ride Time Events
• Hundreds Of Dollars Worth of In-Park Savings

If this sounds like the type of summer you’d like to have, check out our new and pre-owned vehicles and our specials! Then come in to get your Summer of Fun started!

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The 2016 Nissan Murano will soon be featured in a new Research & Review page that will be released on the Destination Nissan website. This new page will be a helpful research tool for anyone who is interested in this vehicle and would like to learn more about the specifics before seeing it in person. On the page, you will have all the facts for this model including engine and transmission options, safety features, trim levels, EPA estimate, and starting MSRP. Look out for the release of this new page and then visit our dealership to take the 2016 Nissan Murano out for a test drive.

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With the nice weather looming, everyone has a bit of Spring Fever. If you’re itching to get out of the house for a day or two, there’s no need to get out of Upstate New York to do so! Route 20 stretches from the New York – Massachusetts border to the town of Ripley just outside of Pennsylvania and there are tons of attractions to see all along it.

1. Albany, NY – The first, and most well-known stop, the Capital of New York, Albany, is filled with Museums, theaters, and places to eat. There’s enough to do in this one city that you could stick around for the whole weekend and not see it all!
2. Sharon Springs, NY– Stop here to get an idea of what a modern day renaissance looks like. It seems like every month there is a new restaurant or cidery to try. This town is also known for its vibrant festivals and decadent spa.
3. The TePee– This is the perfect pit stop on your trip. Snack on classic road food at The Chuckwagon while taking in views of the Mohawk River valley that only Route 20 can offer.
4. Glimmerglass- Take some time to stretch your legs at Glimmerglass State Park. There are plenty of trails to explore and a pristine beach that is the perfect setting for a nice afternoon nap.

Writer, Deanna Fox | Contributing. “Route 20 Road Trip in Upstate New York: 14 Stops to Make from Albany to Buffalo.” NewYorkUpstate.com. N.p., 27 Apr. 2015. Web. 10 May 2016.

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Don’t forget to wish your mom a Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday! And if you really want to thank her for everything she’s done for you, stop by Destination Nissan between 11am and 4pm and Sunday, we have the perfect gift!

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It doesn’t matter if you been driving for 30 years or 30 minutes, you will experience extreme and unexpected weather while behind the wheel. This means that your visibility will be lower, the friction between your wheels and the road will be lessened and it will cause travel delays. 22% or 1.3 billion motor vehicle accidents are related to poor weather conditions. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck in the house with the slightest bit of precipitation, it just means you need to know how to drive in it.

Living in the Northeast, as we do, our biggest concerns are ice and snow. And while they are not a concern at this point in the year, don’t forget about the sudden downpours accompanied with lightning, thunder and even hail. So, do you know how to properly prepare for and drive in a freak thunderstorm?

There are three tried and true ways to ensure your safety while on the road with heavy rain. First, no matter how convenient, avoid using cruise control. The traction between your tires and the road is limited when they’re wet due to rising oil and grease. When your tire’s treads can’t reach the ground through the water your vehicle will begin hydroplaning. If this should ever happen lower your speed, but do not slam on the brakes, grasp the steering wheel and steer in the direction of the skid.

Second, and what might be most obvious, is to leave room between you and the other vehicles in front of you. Usually, a distance of three car lengths is acceptable. This allows you to have time to react to any sudden stops as well as slow your vehicle down at a safe rate.

Lastly, before you leave your home on a humid day when thunderstorms are possible, take note of the low roads where you’ll be traveling. See if there is an alternate route to take that won’t delay you too much. Low roads will increase the amount of pooling water and make it harder for your tire tread to reach the road, resulting in hydroplaning.

Of course, if you have any questions about your cruise control, type of brakes, or best driving practices, stop into Destination Nissan. We will be happy to show you how to drive safely in any situation.

“How to React to Extreme Weather When Driving.” Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2016.

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For those who have been waiting for the release of the 2016 Nissan Sentra Research and Review page, Destination Nissan would like to announce it is finally up on our website. If you are not familiar with these pages, it is designed to help you do some additional research before coming in for a test drive.

On this page you will that the 2016 Nissan Sentra has an efficient 1.8L Four-Cylinder Engine that produces a 130 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. There are two transmission options, including a six-speed manual transmission and a CVT transmission. Safety features include Traction Control System, LATCH System, Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with Dual-Stage Front Airbags. Standard and available features include RearView Monitor, Siri® Eyes Free, Power Heated Side Mirrors with LED Turn Signal Indicators, and LED Low-Beam Projector Headlights with LED Accents.

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The 2016 Nissan Sentra is now here at Destination Nissan and we are excited to be able to tell all of our customers from Albany, Schenectady, Latham Saratoga, and Clifton park, NY that we have also just released the new Research & Review page that will help them to learn all about this impressive new vehicle. Check out this page today and then set up a test drive by filling out our Online Scheduling Form.

A few facts about this vehicle include that comes in five trim level options, the S, FR+® S, SV, SR, and SL and they are all powered by the same 130 horsepower 1.8L Four-Cylinder engine.

Some of the features that the 2016 Nissan Sentra can be equipped with include Cruise Control, Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System, Air Conditioning, USB Connection Port, Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition, Heated Front Seats, Fog Lights, SiriusXM® Traffic & Travel Link®, and Leather-Appointed Seats.

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