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Summertime is all about hitting the road for another adventure, but here at Younger Nissan of Frederick, we want to take the time to refresh you on some important information. The warm weather has more people hitting the road, whether in a car, on a bike, or just walking. This means you have to be more alert than ever to keep you, your passengers, and other drivers/ pedestrians safe. So below, we took the time to lay important information about what should be in your vehicle for safe travel, summer maintenance trips, and best practices once you hit the road. Once you’ve reviewed the information, be sure to schedule a service appointment, as service helps ensure your safety behind the wheel! Then hit the road safely this summer! Update What’s Inside Your Vehicle: First aid kit Flashlight Flares and a white flag Jumper cables Tire pressure gauge Jack (and ground mat) for changing a tire Work gloves and a change of clothes Basic repair tools and some duct tape (for temporarily repairing a hose leak) Water and paper towels for cleaning up Nonperishable food, drinking water, and medicines Extra windshield washer fluid Maps Emergency blankets, towels, and coats Cell phone and charger Before You Hit The Road: Check for recalls on your vehicle Service your vehicle to avoid a breakdown down the road Review your owner’s manual to really know your vehicle Plan your travel route, this includes research for rest areas, food, or even hotels Vehicle Maintenance Checklist: Battery Lights Cooling system Fluid levels Belt and hoses Wiper blades A/C unit Floor mats Tire pressure and tread levels Once On The Road: Stay Alert: keep your gas tank close to full,  plan enough time to stop to stretch, get something to eat, return calls or text messages, and change drivers or rest if you feel drowsy. Avoid risky behavior: Do not text or drive distracted, obey speed limits, ALWAYS drive sober *Information provided by https://www.nhtsa.gov/summer-driving-tips Stay Safe Behind The Wheel With Service!

The seasons will be changing soon, and that means warmer weather is on the horizon. More people will be out and about taking in the spring weather, which means it’s important to slow down and keep an eye out for pedestrians, cyclists, and road workers! But that’s not the only thing you should watch out for! Spring can also be a dangerous time to drive with potholes, rainstorms, and tons of distractions! Take a peek below and refresh yourself on some helpful safety tips for driving this spring! Be On The Lookout For Potholes: Winter weather takes a big toll on our roadways, which leads to some pretty nasty potholes. If you are speeding down the road and don’t slow down in time and hit a pothole, then chances are that your vehicle is gonna have some damage, serious damage. Damage can include a punctured tire, bent rim, suspension damage, poor alignment, and exhaust system damage. Slow Down For Spring Showers: Did you know that roads are most slippery when it first starts to rain? This is caused by rainwater mixing with contaminants on the road, such as oil and grease. Make sure to increase your following distance to allow for proper braking. Watch For Animals On The Move: Animal activity is up when the weather starts getting nicer. That means keep an eye out and drive slow especially for animals like deer that are known to be out at dusk and dawn. Watch For Pedestrians: Similar to animals, people tend to be out and about more when the weather starts getting warmer. Whether that means there are more walkers, cyclists or kids play hopscotch. Be sure to slow down especially in residential neighborhoods and busy streets. Share The Road With Motorcycles: Spring is when the motorcycle riders come out, and because of their speed and size, they may come in and out of your blind spots quickly. Be sure to listen to the sound of their bike and take a few extra seconds before switching lanes. If you are following a motorcycle, remember to leave a good amount of space in between. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure: During the winter months, your tires lose air due to the cold temperatures, this causes your tire to be under-deflated. Vice-versa, warm weather will cause them to be over-inflated. Each situation can lead to increased wear and poor handling. Inspect Your Tires: Spring will bring the showers and when that happens making sure your tire tread is in shape is important to the quality of your driving. Just like snow, rain makes the road slippery and having good tires will make or break your driving experience. Remember to use easy tricks the penny test to check your tire tread and regularly check your tire pressure if your vehicle doesn’t display it for you. Pay Attention In Construction Zones: When the snow washes away and the spring days are here to stay, construction will start up again. One thing to keep in mind is that construction zones ask you to slow down for a reason, do it. Remember to... Be attentive. Construction workers and equipment may suddenly enter the roadway. Traffic patterns can change daily to accommodate the work being done. Understand and follow the signs. Make safe lane changes. Solid lines in construction zones mean that you should stay in your lane. Slow down. Fines may be doubled in construction zones. In addition, slowing down can save a life. Schedule Your Spring Service Appointment Today!

February is coming to a close and that means that Spring will be here before we know it! With that being said, we’re sure that you’ve been planning out your next adventure, and before you hit the road we want to remind you to double-check/ restock your emergency kit for your car! Don’t have one of those? No problem, because this week we laid out everything you’ll need in case you find yourself stuck in a sticky situation. I know what you’re thinking, you don’t need an emergency kit, however, if you’ll be adventuring off the beaten path, it is always a good idea to have backup...even if it’s as small as a bandaid! So take a peek below and be sure to get your DIY emergency kit ready for the next road trip! Oh, and don’t forget to service your ride before hitting the open road! Schedule your service appointment with us today! What to Pack in Your Kit: First aid (For more minor accidents) Band-Aids Hand sanitizer. Antiseptic. Antibiotic ointment. Bug spray. Aspirin (or similar). Cotton balls. Gauze pads. Tweezers. Bandana. Ace bandage. * These items one might be best kept inside the vehicle in a place like your trunk* Fire extinguisher (For more serious accidents) Choose a smaller one that is easy to store Jumper cables. Rain Ponchos. Flashlight and extra batteries. Scent-free baby wipes. Drinking water and non-perishable snacks. Multipurpose tool. Cell Phone Charger. Weather-based items: Ice scraper. Cat litter for slick roads. Small battery-powered fan. Blankets and/or warm clothing. Fluids to keep in your car: Oil Antifreeze Brake fluid Schedule A Service Appointment Before You Hit The Road!

Summer is the time to hit the road, but if you have a new driver on your hands it might be scary to let them take on the busy roads. Although the road tends to be more congested during the summer months, doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to teach young drivers. In fact, bringing them out on the busier roads (when they’re ready, of course), will allow them to practice and get used to driving on main roads. If you’re nervous to do this, we suggest looking into a driving course where a professional can do it. However, whether your new driver will be hitting the road with you or an instructor, there are a few things to keep in mind as a parent of a teen driver. Kids pick up a lot of things, they learn from experience, and if they see you drive distracted, chances are they will too. The best way to teach your child safe driving is actually driving safely. What do we mean? Well, below out find a handful of helpful things to remember when driving with a teen driver. We suggest taking a few minutes to check them out before hitting the road. Demonstrate good driving behavior early: Kids pick up on a lot and whether you notice or not, they started copying you when they were babies. So it’s no surprise they mimic your behavior behind the wheel. Be more conscious when you’re driving, keep both hands on the wheel, try not to fidget with the radio too much and definitely don’t use your phone AT ALL!! Think of yourself as a road role model and act exactly as you would want them to behind the wheel. It’s okay to let a pro teach them: Let’s face it some of us just can’t do it and that doesn’t make you a bad parent, if anything thing, realizing you don’t have the patience to teach your child the proper way to drive but giving them an opportunity where they can learn, makes you an awesome parent! And taking part in Driver’s Ed could actually save you some money on auto insurance! SCORE! Set realistic boundaries: It might seem like it sometimes but kids actually crave boundaries and rules. I know you’re thinking I'm crazy right? Well wrong. Kids don’t know the right and wrong thing to do in certain situations, that’s why it is important you set rules for them so they know. So it’s important to set rules and boundaries for the new driver, whether it be no more than two friends in the car, or not going more than 20 miles at least for the first couple of months. Be realistic, but lay the rules down early on. This could help avoid a fight later down the road, which ends with them saying “Well you never said that wasn’t okay!” And they wouldn’t be wrong because you didn't’! Talk to them about the risks of driving… not just drinking and driving: You’ve probably been talking to your kids about the risk of drinking a driving since forever because that’s what you were taught. Yes, that is very important to talk about but don’t forget about the risk of distracted driving. Today's kids are consumed with technology now we’re in a world of Smartphones, tablets, Smartwatches, satellite radio, and who knows what else technology is on the horizon! That means countless new distractions for drivers, young and old. So let them know exactly how dangerous it can be to drive distracted, not just drunk. Share driving responsibilities Every new drive needs practice, so give it to them! Split the driving responsibility, whether that means running to the grocery store, Picking up their little brother from practice, or even going to a friends house. It might be a little at first but the only way they will get better is by practicing. Plus it takes some responsibility off your plate which is always a good thing! Being a parent to a new driver can be a rough time, but I promise you will get through it! It can be an exciting, sad, and scary time, but remember you watched them grow up and conquer everything else that was thrown at them, they can do this and so can you! Find The Perfect Nissan For Your New Driver Here!

Every car has one but not every driver uses it. Turn signals may be the most underutilized device in vehicles. Yet signaling is one of the most important actions you can make as a driver. By signaling you are warning other drivers of your impending moves to minimize hazardous surprises. Using a turning signal is actually quite easy, all you have to do is push the turning signal up or down depending on which direction you are choosing to go….So why is it so hard for people to use them? Is it laziness, forgetfulness, or just is we just don’t feel the need to do so?! Regardless of why we don’t use it, we have to start using it! There several reasons to use your turning signal, one of the most compelling is that it is illegal to not use your turning signal. Another is according to the Society of Automotive Engineers it is estimated that two million crashes per year are direct results of failure to signal! Avoid the head of dealing with a car crash and use your signals! If you’re unsure when it is appropriate to use your signal, have no fear I am here to save the day and throw some traffic knowledge at you so continue reading! You should use your signal when… Changing lanes: When you need to change lanes, turn on your turn signal first. This gives the cars around you ample time to slow down and prepare for you to get over. Then check your surroundings to make sure you have room to change lanes. Keep your turn signal on until you have gotten over completely, and then turn your signal off. Do not wait to signal until you are already in process of changing lanes. Turning: There’s a big difference between slowing down to make a turn and slowing down because you realized you were speeding Turning right generally requires slowing down to almost a full stop (and turning left almost always requires coming to a full stop) to ensure you are making the turn at a safe speed and to assess your surroundings. Without your turn signal, the cars behind you are left to guess why you are breaking, and they may misjudge the situation. Out of a side street: This important to let drivers know I you’re going left or right If you’re are turning right, you have the right away If you’re going left you don’t have to wait for the other people to go first At a Stoplight: If there is a turning lane signal that you are going into that lane and leave your signal on until you’ve completed the turn If there is no turning lane it is especially important to use your signal so the cars around you know that you are turning Check out our inventory here!

It is important to be proactive about safety, especially in your neighborhood. As a society, we are fast paced people but there are places we need to slow down and the biggest is your neighborhood. Neighborhoods are full of all different kinds of people who use the streets, sidewalks, and crosswalks. Some people assume neighborhoods are a safe place to drive through, but on the contrary, there are a lot of potential hazards you could run into. One moment of carelessness or recklessness in a neighborhood could result in a costly accident. Common Hazards There are many different types of obstructions or hazards that drivers must watch out for in a neighborhood setting. These include: Children at play. Children often play in and around streets. They may suddenly run out in front of a car to chase a ball without looking. Roadway obstructions. Neighborhood streets can become crowded with all kinds of obstructions, such as parked cars, trash, and recycling bins, and bags of leaves or discarded materials. Children, pets, and others may dart out between parked cars or from behind obstructions without warning. Blind corners. Sometimes it can be hard to see around corners because of blocking trees, bushes, mailboxes, light poles, fences, or other obstructions. Pedestrians crossing. Kids walking to or from school or people walking around the neighborhood with kids or pets may cross the street at the corner or in the middle of the street, sometimes without looking both ways. Bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles. These two-wheeled vehicles have as much of a right to use the road as do automobiles. Safety Tips To avoid having an accident because of the above potential hazards, it is important for drivers to respect others’ use of the road in residential areas and to do the following: Drive slowly. By driving at or under the reduced speed limit in neighborhoods you can prevent a severe accident. Exercise caution at intersections and turns. Look in all directions for potential hazards. Don’t tailgate slower vehicles. Be polite towards bicycles and scooters and keep a safe following distance until you can clearly pass them at a passing distance of greater than three feet. Give pedestrians the right of way. Slow down or stop for them especially if there is a crosswalk. Use your lights. At night, always use your headlamps to illuminate the road. Following these simple rules will help keep your neighborhood streets safer and help stop a heartbreaking accident from occurring. Visit Our Collision Center In Case Of An Accident

Have you ever had the experience of driving along, minding your own business, and then encountering a driver with SUCH bad manners (or bad driving habits) that it made you see red? It’s happened to all of us, but unfortunately that anger is super dangerous. Normally you’d say “hey, blog, you know that I am fueled by rage in my everyday life!” I will tell you that this is probably unhealthy, but it’s especially bad when you’re behind the wheel. Road rage is a serious problem that causes thousands of accidents per year. This is why we have put together this list of tips for avoiding road rage and making sure that you’re on the right track, no matter how many terrible drivers you encounter on the road. First, always plan for a delay on your trip. Even if you’re traveling a route that you’re super familiar with, the traffic on that route changes every second. You might have a totally clear drive one morning and then a clogged traffic jam the next morning. So, to avoid the anxiety and distress that often come from tardiness, plan for delays and leave early! When you are on the road, stay alert for people who have a tendency to tailgate. If you have someone who starts trying to drive directly up your tailpipe, move over and let them pass you at the first opportunity you have to do so safely. Wave them on if they need encouragement and don’t try to bait them by brake-checking or slowing down. Lay off the horn while you’re at it. Using your horn not only annoys other drivers when it’s done unnecessarily, it can make you upset as well! Seriously! So, try to only use that horn in case of emergency - if you need to tell someone to get off their phone when the light turns green or if someone’s driving dangerously, for example. If you get a little more upset than you might be comfortable with on your commute, try turning on some soothing music or soft talk radio to distract you a little and give your brain some calming vibes. It works! Finally, try to avoid other drivers who are road raging. Let them pass, don’t bait them, move around them - whatever works to get you out of their way. Let them be angry somewhere else… they shouldn’t ruin your drive with their bad attitudes! New Nissan Vehicles Are Safety-Minded

Are you like me and, even though you’re kind of young, you have the eyes of an 85-year-old person whose favorite lifelong hobby has been staring directly into the sun? It’s not fun. I should have healthy, youthful eyeballs but instead, I get to wear Coke-bottle glasses and can’t really see at night. This makes it difficult for me to drive after dark, but I’ve figured out some ways I can boost my vision and stay safe on the road, even when I’m driving past sunset. If you suffer similarly, you might benefit from these tips! Check them out! The first one is to not wear any kind of tinted glasses at night. People market things like “glare reducing” glasses that have a slight tint, and if you own them you should just throw them away or use them when you’re at work and looking at a computer all day. The tint in glasses is pigment, which blocks light from reaching your eyes. Sight is literally light hitting your retinas, and if you have problems with your sight in the darkness, then you need all the light you can get. Even so, the light from the headlights of oncoming vehicles can be too much for anyone and leave you with spots in your vision. If you are about to pass an oncoming vehicle, keep your eyes trained on the white line at the side of the road. You’ll be able to see the vehicle in your periphery and stay in your lane, but you won’t get a big spot in the middle of your line of vision! Finally, if you really feel that it would not be safe for you to drive at night, don’t do it. Get a ride, schedule around it, or just stay home. You can have a lot of fun with a good book, I promise. And a book won’t put you at risk of getting into a car accident (unless, of course, you’re reading at the wheel… which I don’t think I have to tell you not to do). Safety is always first! New Nissan = Powerful Headlights For Better Seeing!

With spring here, we’re in for increased rainfall and therefore wet roads. This means that you’re at a much higher risk of hydroplaning on the road - a dangerous thing that can lead to a crash. This week’s blog, we’ll be talking about what you should do when you’re driving on a wet road, and what to do if you start to hydroplane. Stay safe! The first thing to remember is not to panic. Don’t slam on the brakes or the gas. Hydroplaning is when your front tires lose traction. Braking slows down your front tires, but locks the rear ones and makes you spin out. And because hydroplaning can spin your vehicle a little, accelerating can mean trouble because you really don’t have control of which direction your vehicle is going to go. What you should do is look for an open spot (ideally right in front of you, if you’re on the road) and try to steer in that direction. Don’t oversteer! Just gently guide your vehicle in that direction without pushing on the brake or the gas. To avoid hydroplaning, don’t use your cruise control in heavy rain. The water on the road and a loss of traction can trick your vehicle into thinking that it needs more power, and the cruise control will accelerate suddenly and can get you in trouble. You can also avoid hydroplaning with some preventive measures! Make sure your tire tread is in good shape by doing the penny test (stick a penny into your tires’ tread with the top of Lincoln’s head facing the center of your tire - if you can see the top of his head, it’s time for new tires), and by driving carefully and slower than normal in the rain. A good rule of thumb is to go at 1/3 the speed you’d normally go. Take care and good luck - rain is dangerous in its own way and we want to make sure you’re safe and sound in your Nissan! Get Your Tires In Shape!

When you’re out on the road, the things you’re paying attention to probably include what’s on the radio, the scenery, your passengers, the other vehicles on the road… and probably not your fuel level. Sure, you fill up when you have to, but it’s easy to let your tank get down to the bare bottom before you stop at the gas station. Well, it’s not exactly the best idea to do this, and certainly not to make a habit of it. There are many reasons why driving on empty is bad, but here are three that might give you a little wake-up call and help you observe the quarter tank rule (i.e. never let your tank get below a quarter full) a little better. The first reason is because your fuel gauge is not always accurate. Sure, there are some vehicles out there that will say cheerful things like “you have 5 miles until empty,” but even that’s not completely true. You never know how much is really left once you hit that E until your vehicle physically runs out of gas. It could be 5 miles, it could be 50, but do you really want to find out? There are plenty of videos on YouTube of other people testing it out. Just watch them, don’t try it yourself. Next, your fuel pump uses the gas it pulls in as a coolant. When there’s not enough gas, it starts sucking in air. The air creates more friction and definitely isn’t as cool as the liquid fuel, and your pump burns out very quickly, especially if this practice is repeated often. The repair or replacement is expensive. Much more expensive than a tank of gas. Believe us, because we do that kind of work and we know that a tank of gas is much less expensive. The final thing is that there’s sediment at the bottom of every fuel tank. When your fuel level gets lower and lower, that sediment gets closer and closer to getting sucked up with the fuel and pushed through your fuel lines and fuel injectors, clogging them up and destroying your fuel system from the inside out. If you let this happen often enough, your vehicle will need a full flush. That’s pretty dang expensive. Try An Electric Leaf And Leave Gas Behind

Did you ever take Driver’s Ed? I am sure that you did, once upon a time, so you must remember the term “Defensive Driving” from that time. If you’re like me though, you forgot everything about defensive driving the minute you actually got your license and then moved on with your life. But! I am here to tell you that defensive driving is actually something super useful that you should keep in mind when you are on the road. Here are our favorite defensive driving tips: Pay attention Expect the unexpected Maintain a safe speed Don’t tailgate Anticipate the moves of other drivers Be conscientious about the weather and road conditions Don’t be distracted Respect other drivers on the road That’s all! Next time you’re driving, try some of these tips out. You will feel safer and more in control in no time! Have You Heard Of Our VIP Rewards Program?

Do you ever enter the parking lot with a sense of dread? Do you hate being in the parking lot, whether you’re a driver or a pedestrian, because of the rude and seemingly incompetent drivers that you are forced to share space with? Well, good thing for you, we have put together a list of the most important elements of parking lot etiquette. Share this with everyone you know - maybe we’ll start a parking lot revolution and soon it will be a joyful place instead of a scary one! First, you should make sure you park straight in the parking space. Make sure that your vehicle is not only straight in the parking space, but also centered in it. If your vehicle is crooked, it’s harder for not only you but the drivers on either side of your car to get in and out of their own vehicles. It also puts your vehicle at risk of dents, scrapes, or other minor injuries from people impatiently looking and saying “ever seen a straight line before?” before callously opening their doors into your car. Don’t take up more than one space. If you have a newer car and don’t want to risk your crystal clean and ultra perfect new paint job, park further out where there are fewer cars. Don’t be selfish and keep someone else from a closer spot just because of your paint! If taking up two spaces is just the result of a poor parking job, just pull out and straighten out. Another thing to remember is that if you’re driving a larger vehicle (i.e. a truck), a lot of parking spaces are measured out for smaller vehicles that are narrower than yours. If you find this to be the case in a spot, your best bet is to park farther out so that you have the space you need. You should really take turns waiting for a parking spot. Don’t The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift into a spot in front of someone who has been waiting for it longer than you! That is just plain rude and can lead to angry driving which in turn can lead to accidents in the parking lot. You will find another open spot, and you’ll be safer for your patience. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would NOT be proud of you for doing that, either, which honestly for me is enough of a reason to never, never do that thing ever again. When you’re a pedestrian, make your intentions clear. Don’t walk down the middle of the aisle, and make sure you stay on one side of the aisle. Let the cars driving around the lot know where you are and what you plan on doing, so they have one less thing to worry about and so you don’t put yourself at risk of being hit. If someone is driving a super quiet car, you might not be able to hear them. So you should just assume that there are silent cars around you at all times and walk accordingly. The Easiest Cars To Park Are These Ones, Definitely