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Keep Your New Driver Safe Behind The Wheel | Frederick, MD

  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 responsibilitiesEvery 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!
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Younger Nissan’s Safe Travel Tips For Your Furry Friend | Frederick, MD

The weather is beginning to warm up and drivers everywhere are hitting the road. And with that, we know you’re bound to want to enjoy those sunny days ahead with your furry friend. Younger Nissan wants to help make sure those adventures are safe for everyone. So, in this week's blog, we are sharing with you our safe travel tips for when it comes time to pack up the pooch and head out to the beach, park, or any other outdoor adventure. Check out our tips listed below and stop in to see our team for a test drive if you’re ready to upgrade before you hit the road! Younger Nissan’s Safe Travel Tips For Your Furry Friend: Always use a crate to keep them safe: Whenever you are traveling in your vehicle your pooch should always be secure inside his/ her crate. This is the safest place for them in the event of an accident. And make it comfortable for them and mitigate travel anxiety by adding a blanket, a toy they love, and any other items your doggo likes. Food, water, treats, medications: Always have water for your pet when you go out on excursions as it’s more than likely your dog will engage in a good amount of activity. Treats are always a good idea in case your fur baby needs a little extra incentive to listen to your commands. Depending on how long your trip is you may have to pack your pups dinner for the road. Don’t forget any medications that your dog might need along the way! Vet visits are key: Is your pet safe and healthy enough to travel? A product of the Covid quarantine process is that our pets have become very used to the household and can experience quite a bit of anxiety upon leaving. A quick visit to your vet can answer any/ all questions that you may have when it comes to traveling with your pet. This is especially important if your pet is on the older side. Getting your vet’s approval to travel is important! Take a potty break: Everyone could use a minute to stop, stretch our legs, and maybe use the bathroom. Treat your pooch to that same courtesy you do yourself. This will also allow your dog to keep calm throughout the ride as these walks will hopefully wear them out a bit. DON’T LEAVE YOUR POOCH IN THE CAR: This is putting your pet at risk for overheating and quite frankly, it’s not worth it. Unless your vehicle is parked in a secure, cool, covered parking garage - don’t leave them.

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Winter Driving Tips For Nissan Drivers | Frederick, MD

It’s a snowy one out there, and your friends here at Younger Nissan of Frederick want to help make sure if you have to hit the road, you do it safely! We want to suggest staying off the roads and avoiding travel if possible, but we do understand that isn’t always possible. So, we invite all drivers to take a peek below at our winter driving tips and tricks! You might be used to snow, but that doesn’t make it any easier to get from point A to point B once the snow has fallen. Take some time to read through our tips for driving in the snow, everyday driving tips, and long-distance driving tips. It never hurts to refresh yourself on best practices to ensure a safer drive! If you were planning on stopping onto Younger Nissan of Frederick to shop for a new Nissan, don’t stress! Head over to our website to shop, value your trade-in, get pre-approved, and build your deal, all from the comfort of your own home with Younger Express Purchase! Have any questions or concerns? Give us a call today! Tips For Driving In The Snow: Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for gaining traction and avoiding skids. Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly. The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold braking. Don’t stop if you can avoid it. Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Make it know what kind of driving assistance you have (AAA, Roadside Assistance, etc.) Everyday Driving Tips: Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage. Make certain your tires are properly inflated. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up. If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy, and snowy weather. Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand). Always look and steer where you want to go. Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle. Long-Distance Driving Tips: Watch Weather Reports Service your vehicle before hitting the road Keep at least half a tank at all times If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled-up window to signal distress, if needed. Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice, or mud if you slide off the road

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Keep An Eye Out For Construction Zones | Frederick, MD

Summer is almost here and before we know it we will all be packing everything in and hitting the open road to enjoy some fun in the sun! Regardless if your trip takes you near or far, the chances that you see those orange signs warning you that there’s construction ahead are pretty high. Let’s face it, construction can be a bummer! Construction usually slows down or completely backs-up traffic, which means your mood goes from excited to frustrated real quick! However, we all know how important construction is for our roads and we have to remember why we are taking extra precautions when driving through these areas. When we approach the construction zone everything slows way down, but for a good reason! Construction workers are working and walking around and if you’re doing 50 plus miles per hour, serious injury could occur if someone becomes distracted. Plus, you should be slowing down for your own safety. During construction, things could be thrown around and accidents can happen. To avoid being caught in the middle, slow down and pay attention! For more tips about safely taking on construction zones this summer, check out our helpful tips below! Younger Nissan’s Construction Zone Safety Tips: Increase your following distance: You should have three car lengths in front of you when entering a construction zone. I know you might think this is extensive but give yourself more room leaves space in case of an accident like a worker stepping out too far or even something falling in the road! Don’t assume workers are present: A lot of the time you’ll see signs that tell you to reduce your speed because you are approaching a work zone, but once you get there it looks like nobody is working…so most people accelerate to normal speed. Regardless if you don’t see the worker or not, obey the speed limit. Workers could be working farther up, and even if they’re not working a cop could still be monitoring the area just waiting for someone to break the law! Follow instructions from flaggers: Always obey instructions from flaggers, and assume that their instructions overrule any other traffic signs or signals. Their directions might not align with normal traffic patterns, so be prepared. Also, be on the lookout for flaggers' signals, such as an extended palm indicating that you need to stop. Be sure to also reduce your speed and be especially aware of your surroundings when driving near a work zone with flaggers posted. Minimize your distractions: Distraction-free driving is always important, but especially during work zones! When you are approaching a work zone, slow down, turn down any loud music, and stay focused on your surroundings. The more attentive you are the less likely you will be to have an accident! Merge promptly at land closure: One of the most common causes of accidents and road rage in construction zones is that of lane closures. When you see a sign posted for an upcoming lane closure, be sure to merge as soon as safely possible. Do not wait until the lane is coming to an end to force your way over into the next lane over. This is not only rude to the other drivers who followed the posted signs and merged but it could cause a road rage incident