Night Driving Tips and Tricks

Loughead Nissan wants to help you get your Nissan in shape for the fall months ahead. I know, I know, you don’t want to talk about the fact that summer is coming to an end sooner than later. However, it’s important to get your vehicles into tip-top shape after a long summer of travel, which is why you should schedule a service appointment with the pros here at Loughead Nissan now! Just head over to our site to schedule your service appointment! But while you’re here, be sure to take a peek below and check out some helpful tips on how you can drive safer in the case of a heavy rainstorm. With fall right around the corner, heavy rain isn’t unheard of. So read more below and schedule your appointment today! Driving in heavy rain: Turn your headlights on – the Highway Code says you must use them when visibility is seriously reduced Use fog lights if you like, but switch them off when visibility improves. Leave twice as much space between you and the car in front – it takes longer to stop in the wet. If your steering feels light due to hydroplaning, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually. If you break down don't prop the bonnet open while you wait. Rain-soaked electrics can make it harder to start the engine. Driving during floods and standing water Try to avoid standing water if you can. Don't drive into flood water that’s moving or more than 4 inches deep. Let approaching cars pass first if you are unsure of the depth Drive slowly and steadily so you don’t make a bow wave. Test your brakes as soon as you can afterward. Water can have a damaging effect on brakes, make sure they are working properly before you continue to drive Fast-moving water is very powerful: if strong enough your car could be swept away. Find an alternate route if the water is moving too fast to pass-through Watch out for: Look out for slip and trip hazards like curbs under the water. Manhole covers can get lifted and moved. Water levels can change quickly

Summer is in the air and that means humidity is too. There is no escaping it, usually hot weather means we get humidity and with that comes some pretty crazy storms. Now storms aren’t all bad, they usually do break the humidity, but that doesn't mean they aren’t dangerous. Summer storms tend to be quick but can leave lots of flooding, making it hard to drive in and mask potential hazards in the road. We get a lot of rain here in Pennsylvania, but not as much as other places. If you’ll be hitting the road this summer to unknown places, it might be a good idea to check out our helpful tips below. Below you’ll find tips for making it through a flooded area after or during a storm, and even if you won’t be traveling this summer it’s always good information to have! So check it out and if you find your vehicle is damaged during a storm, just schedule a service appointment with us and we can get your ride back into tip-top- shape! Do not drive through standing water on roads or in parking lots: It’s easy to think we can just drive through standing water if we go slow, but the truth is the average automobile can be swept off the road in 12 inches of moving water! Driving through water can also stall your engine which could cause damage if you try to restart the engine. If you come along a flooded road or lot, try to find an alternative route to your destination! Take extra precautions if you’re forced to drive through water: Do your best to estimate the depth of the water (if other cars are driving through, take note of how deep the water is). Drive slowly and steadily through the water. Avoid driving in water that downed electrical or power lines have fallen in — electric current passes through water easily. Watch for items traveling downstream — they can trap or crush you if you're in their path. If you have driven through water up to the wheel rims or higher, test your brakes on a clear patch of road at low speed. If they are wet and not stopping the vehicle as they should, dry them by pressing gently on the brake pedal with your left foot while maintaining speed with your right foot. Stay off the telephone unless you must report severe injuries. If your vehicle stalls in the deep water, you may need to restart the engine to make it to safety. Keep in mind that restarting may cause irreparable damage to the engine. If you can't restart your vehicle and you become trapped in rising water, immediately abandon it for higher ground. Try to open the door or roll down the window to get out of the vehicle. If you are unable to get out safely, call 911 or get the attention of a passerby or someone standing on higher ground so that they may call for help.

Loughead Nissan knows that you do your absolute best to practice defensive driving and an important part of that is being mindful of your vehicle’s blindspot and the blindspots of vehicles around you. To help our community be as safe as possible while behind the wheel, our team wants to offer our tips on how to check and avoid blind spots. What is a blind spot you might ask? A blind spot is any area surrounding your vehicle that is not within your normal field of vision. Blind spots can also be created by dividers in your vehicle, headrests, cargo, and any number of other things. So how do drivers check and avoid these blindspots? One way to do it is with blind spot detection systems like we have in our 2022 Nissan models. As part of the Nissan Safety Shield® 360 system, our blind spot warning keeps an eye on blind spots and gives you a heads up if it detects anything there. If you want to learn more about any of the other safety features offered in our Nissan Safety Shield® 360 system, contact a Loughead Nissan team member and let us send you home safe and sound in a new 2022 Nissan today. How To Check & Avoid Blind Spots: Keep cargo out of fields of vision. We know sometimes this is unavoidable, but we suggest that when possible you stow your cargo below your window line so as to not create any more blindspots in your field of vision. Use the “over the shoulder check” method. This manual checking method isn’t our favorite as it does require that you take your eyes off of the immediate road for an extended period of time, but it is better than not checking your blind spots at all. Adjust your mirror. Properly adjusting your mirrors helps to minimize blind spots so when doing so from the driver’s seat lean slightly to the side of the mirror you're adjusting and move it so the side of your vehicle is just barely visible. Your rear view mirror should also be adjusted to give you a clear view through your back windshield of anything behind your vehicle. The Loughead team hopes these suggestions make your driving experience a safer one.