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Staying safe in a construction zone is always a gamble, but it’s one of the most important places to be concentrating on the road. I know that I’m always nervous when I am on the highway and I see that there’s a construction zone coming up. For me, that means that there will be unpredictable drivers, people going too fast or too slow, workers giving me dirty looks for not knowing what the heck I am doing, and the construction zone will seem to go on FOREVER. This is almost always my experience. But I am working on being better when it comes to construction zones, so I thought I would share my tips with you in case you also have this problem. Check them out! You should always stay alert and try not to be distracted. Pay attention to the road - and I mean your FULL attention! Don’t listen to the radio (or at least don’t mess with your music), don’t use your cellphone, don’t eat… basically just don’t do anything that’s not driving. The road should be your priority at all times anyway, but when you are in a construction zone it’s even more important. Keep your headlights on! Even if it’s broad daylight, make sure your lights are on. Just in case! Make sure you’re in the right lane ahead of time. By right I mean “correct,” though the correct lane could be the right lane. Anyway! If the lanes are merging or closing, make sure you’re where you need to be so you don’t cut anyone off or get stuck behind traffic waiting to merge. The traffic patterns can change daily, so make sure you’re always paying attention to the signs. Don’t tailgate other people! This ties into making sure you are obeying the speed limit. People can brake or accelerate in a split second, and you don’t want to be caught off guard. Besides, tailgating is illegal and also speeding in work zones can get you doubled fines in a lot of places. Be careful! Always expect the unexpected. Things can change quick-as-anything in a work zone, and you don’t want to be caught off guard. Staying safe is the most proactive thing you can do in a work zone, so make sure you’re obeying the law and driving as carefully as possible. Limited Time Specials At Younger Nissan Here!

It’s always hard to know when to use your hazard lights and when not to use them. Each of the 50 states has different rules and regulations regarding when hazard lights can be used when driving. Maryland, for example, does not permit the use of hazard lights when driving except in emergency situations. Virginia has very specific rules: hazard light use is not permitted while driving except for emergency vehicles, stopped or slowed vehicles to indicate a traffic hazard, when traveling as part of a funeral procession, or traveling slower than 30 mph. Phew! That’s a lot to remember. Here are some tips on when you should be using your hazard lights. If you’re driving through rough weather, you might think it’s a good idea to turn your hazards on for the sake of visibility. However, this is against the law in several states, and on top of that it eliminates your ability to use your turn signals normally. In some states it’s not against the law, but most recommendations are that if visibility in a storm is so poor that you feel like you need to turn on your hazards, you should pull over to the side of the road and wait it out. You might want to use your hazards if you are driving much slower than the normal rate of traffic, because you are looking for something or your car is experiencing problems that are causing it to go slowly. Again, the recommendation is that you pull over safely and legally while you either figure out where you are going or call for assistance. When you have your hazards on, other drivers can become confused about which direction you want to go and this can prove to be an even bigger hazard than your speed! If you are already pulled over, you can absolutely put on your hazards to indicate that you are, as it says on the tin, a hazard. This will also let other cars know that you’re there, especially in the darkness if you don’t have a reflective triangle in your emergency kit. Always be judicious about using your hazard lights - even if you think you should use them, you probably shouldn’t before checking your state’s regulations. AAA has put together a helpful list of hazard light use laws, organized by state - this can be found here. And, as always, if you are using your hazards due to mechanical problems with your vehicle, you can always call Younger Nissan for help and a place to get your vehicle repaired with the utmost attention to detail and your satisfaction. Stay Safe With Younger Nissan

Ok, friends. I know that none of us expects that we’ll be in an emergency situation, but let’s be honest, it is terrifying to be in a situation and be totally unprepared to handle it. GOOD NEWS: you can easily prepare for most emergency situations you’ll encounter while on the road. In an effort to keep yourself and those who travel with you safe, below you will find a few lists of things you may need to be fully prepared to handle in an emergency situation. First Aid kit. Some of the items to include are: Ace bandage Antiseptic Band-Aids Aspirin (or similar) Antibiotic ointment Hand sanitizer Tweezers Cotton balls Bug spray Bandana Gauze pads Fire extinguisher Choose a small one that is easy to store. Road flares Spare tire Tire jack Tarp Multipurpose tool Duct tape Flashlight and extra batteries Rags Rain ponchos Drinking water and non-perishable snacks Jumper cables Scent-free baby wipes Some optional items for your roadside kit include: Collapsible shuttle Ice scraper Cat litter for slick roads Small battery-powered fan Blankets and/or warm clothing Other Pro Tips of things you can keep in your car to be prepared for an emergency: Cell phone car charger: Keeping your phone charged up when you're on the road can help you reach out for assistance in an emergency. In addition to a standard car charger, also consider a solar charger. Cash for gas: If the power goes out due to inclement weather, it's nearly impossible to get gas with just your credit card. Cash always works, so keep some safely tucked away in your car. Clean, empty, refillable gas jug: This won't fit in your every-day emergency kit, Just remember it's never safe to keep a full jug in your vehicle, as gas is highly flammable and unstable. Check all car fluids before a long drive: including oil, antifreeze, and transmission fluid. These should be clean and full to make sure your vehicle is running in tip-top shape. Deck of cards, book, or other entertainment: Literally any kind of entertainment that doesn’t require technology. I know that as someone who’s every move uses her cellphone, it’s a hard pill to swallow that I may not have the ability to charge it should an emergency arise. So have options. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared for the worst. It provides with peace of mind that you can handle any situation you end up in. I recommend plastic bins in the trunk so that you know exactly where everything is and can easily access the. So get your bags together and keep that trunk organized! Get Your Car Serviced Before Your Next Road Trip!

There are many benefits of living off the beaten path. It’s quiet and if you are like me and aren’t really a “people person” (I tend to be more of a cat person, to be honest) it is simply lovely to not have to come in contact with another human being unless you are truly trying to. The downside, however, is that in my glorious and quiet sanctuary the streets are not well lit. It is generally pretty dark out there, but the dark hadn’t been a problem really because my Nissan Altima is pretty excellent when it comes to headlights. I can always see where I’m going, so it’s not something I thought about. Until I had to. I was on my way home from work, which usually takes about 45 minutes, it’s kind of a hike, but I love my job so it’s worth it. This night, in particular, I was exhausted, and there was an accident on the highway so it took about an hour and a half to even get off the highway. I finally hit the back roads and thought that I was home free! A few windy roads away from a quart of ice cream and tacos! Out of nowhere, everything went dark. I couldn’t see a single thing even a foot in front of my car. Guys, I’m not nocturnal. As cool as that would be, not to mention how EXTREMELY helpful it would be, I am very much someone who requires light to see. LAME. It quickly became apparent that my headlights went out. So to recap, I’m in the middle of nowhere in the dark. I had to call my sister to come and get me and go get my car in the morning. Now, my car was relatively new at the time, I’d only had it for about a year, so I was so confused as to why the lights went out. I brought my vehicle to Younger Nissan of Frederick and they were so helpful. They checked my car over thoroughly to make sure everything was ok. It appeared that a mouse had chewed through several wires in my car, including both to the headlights causing them to go out. Fortunately, they were able to fix everything up and I have been a bit more vigilant about the mice in my garage, let me tell you. I even let the cats out there from time to time to act as guards. No more mousy snack time for my car. If you find yourself without headlights always pull off to the side of the road and call for assistance. Risking the lives of other people on the road in cars or otherwise is simply not worth it. To get your headlights checked or repaired you can stop by Younger Nissan of Frederick and we’ll be happy to get your car back in shape. Get Your Headlights Replaced Today