Defensive driving is a term that we have all heard, in reference to drivers’ ed classes and maybe if we’ve gotten pulled over a time too many. But did you know that it’s actually important to practice defensive driving in the day-to-day? Yeah, it is! When you drive defensively, you not only drive more safely, but you make sure that other drivers on the road are also safe! All because of your driving. Do you feel good about this? I definitely feel good about this. Anyway, here are some tips on how to drive defensively and be the HERO that the road NEEDS (maybe not the one it deserves, though).

Make sure that you’re paying attention at all times. To the road, specifically. Not to your music, not to your passengers, not to Siri yelling at you to TURN LEFT!!! Pay attention to the road and the other drivers on the road. They are your most important priorities when you are actively behind the wheel!!! Other drivers behave super erratically on a good day, so you need to be on your toes always to make sure you can account for the bad driving of other people. This means not tailgating, not cutting people off, merging correctly, and not getting mad when other people do all that to you and more.

Make sure that you have a plan B, always always always. If your first plan for how you’re going to get to your destination doesn’t work, you should have another idea of what to do. This can really help you avoid being super frustrated with traffic. On that same vein, though, remember that speeding is always a no-no. Focus on the journey, not the destination! I know, it’s B.S., but seriously. Plan well and you won’t have to speed to get where you’re going on time. And if you’re going to be late, accept it. Everyone would rather you arrive alive than never make it at all.

Even though summer is over, construction is still happening whether we like it or not. And just like every out-of-the-ordinary driving situation, there are different rules for conduct when it comes to driving through a work zone. Check out our tips for driving around construction safely below!

• Pay attention to the road. Don’t be distracted by things on the road or in your car, such as music or passengers. Make sure that all of your attention is on the road and the signs, as well as any traffic pattern changes or sudden stops in front of you.

• If you see a worker with a flag, follow their instructions.

• Make sure your headlights are on while you’re driving, no matter if it’s day or night.

• Watch the other cars on the road with you – other drivers can be unpredictable, so you should be prepared for anything to happen.

• Have patience, not only with yourself but with other drivers and the workers on the road. You need to get to where you’re going, sure, but it’s better to be a little late and safe than never get there at all.

• Merge and change lanes when and where you should. Don’t wait until the last minute – this can be dangerous and puts you at a high risk of getting into a collision.

• Don’t tailgate other cars. Work zones should also be called “sudden stop” zones, because people are definitely more liberal with the brakes than they would be elsewhere.

• Watch for speed limit signs and obey them. The speed limit can change several times, and if you get caught speeding through a work zone, the fines can be steep.

Aggressive driving is one of the most dangerous things that happens on the road. Whether or not you’re guilty of it is irrelevant – no matter where it’s coming from, it’s putting you in danger. To make sure that you’re not guilty of driving aggressively, here are some tips for driving safely and tamping down the road rage that night come from traffic, other drivers, or even just your own mood.

Move over if someone is tailgating you. This applies to you as well – don’t tailgate! If someone else is tailgating you, just make sure that you move aside if you can so that the person who is tailgating you can move ahead of you and no longer be your problem.

Use an “I’m sorry” gesture (e.g. wave) to attempt to defuse the situation. If you don’t have to engage with aggressive drivers, don’t! But if you feel like you need to, you should make a calm gesture that communicates apology, like a wave. Never do a gesture like “flipping the bird” or an angry gesture.

Plan ahead; allow time for delays during your journey. Traffic happens. You can rarely avoid it. Being late is a big factor in road rage and aggressive driving, so make sure that you don’t have to worry about that.

Consider whether you’ve done something to annoy the other driver and adjust your driving accordingly. Are you driving well? Are you following the rules of the road? If you’re driving inappropriately or without thinking about other drivers, think about why you are doing this and try to fix it if you can.

Listen to music you enjoy, or music that’s calming, like classical music. However, you should never sacrifice attentiveness to the road for attentiveness to your music. If listening to music means that you’ll be paying more attention to your phone than the road, then drive in silence. It’ll be worth it when you get to your destination safely.

Use your horn sparingly, or never at all. This is super irritating if you’re already angry, so only use your horn gently if you feel like someone else isn’t paying attention or could use a wake-up.

Avoid eye contact with angry drivers and give them plenty of room. Leave well enough alone, and let angry drivers get past you so they are no longer your problem!

We hope these tips have helped you – aggressive driving is a problem and if you can help that problem go away, we salute you!

Is it that time to update your vehicle’s registration? It happens every so often – and it always seems like such a hassle whenever that time arrives. But, here’s some good news for you – it doesn’t have to be a hassle at all! In fact, it’s not really a hassle at all if you think about it. It’s much easier to approach this, like all things, in bite-sized pieces! Check out the process for renewing your Pennsylvania vehicle registration below, and then you can come back and thank us for making the process seem, like, a million times easier.

So, first things first, you can renew your registration in three ways. That’s a lot! And if you look at each method as independent (i.e. you only have to pick one, because you do) then that’s a really small piece to have to worry about. Those three ways are online, in person, and by mail. You’ll receive a renewal notice in the mail that will both let you know that you need to renew your registration and give you instructions on how to do it. But let’s go over it anyway. Here’s how to renew your registration each way it’s possible to do so.

Online

You can renew your vehicle registration online if:

• The PennDOT has your current name and address on file.

• Your registration will expire in 6 months or less.

To renew your registration online, visit the PennDOT website and:

Provide your:

• First 8 digits of your title number.

• PA license plate number.

• Insurance information.

• Odometer reading.

Then you can go ahead and print your temporary registration card!

Mail

To renew your registration via snail mail, just follow the instructions on your renewal notice. Return that notice, and payment for your registration, to the Pennsylvania DOT at the address on your notice.

In Person

To renew your PA vehicle registration in person, visit your local Pennsylvania DMV office with your renewal notice/application or a completed Request for Registration (form MV-140), if you do not have your renewal notice, as well as payment.

That’s all there is to it! Remember that you can visit the Pennsylvania DOT website at any time, and if you are looking for a vehicle to register in the first place, come down to Loughead® Nissan and we’ll get you behind the wheel of the perfect vehicle for you and your lifestyle. Hope to see you soon, and good luck!

As you all know, the 2018 Nissan LEAF premiered on the 5th of this month. I know, it’s been a couple weeks. Maybe one week? I have forgotten what time is, but I do know this: I AM STILL EXCITED ABOUT IT. This car is so beautiful. And it’s such a complete redesign that it’s literally like Nissan released a completely new car. But it’s still got the same great stuff that the original LEAF had, but inside of a super beautiful body. Oh, and with more battery power and torque and just all around style. Not to say that the old LEAF was ugly! Or unstylish! It’s just… not super attractive compared to the 2018 model. There, I said it. Don’t believe me? Watch this video. Then come to Loughead Nissan and look at the LEAFs that are in stock. You will be hard-pressed not to literally drive one home the day you come look at one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxhoYtiGzjI

Fall is fast approaching and with it comes cooler weather. I don’t know about you, but with this change of season, I’m getting ready to turn over a new LEAF. Or at the very least check out the AMAZING new 2018 Nissan LEAF coming soon to Loughead Nissan! I have been waiting OHHH so patiently for any news of this awesome vehicle so now that we’ve gotten our first look at the LEAF on September 5th, I have SO MANY details about this sweet ride. Go ahead! Grab a hot apple cider, snuggle into a warm fleece blanket, and hunker down. There is a lot of info to share and I get the sneaking suspicion that you’ll want to read ALL of it!

First and foremost, the 2018 Nissan LEAF is 100% electric and has ZERO Emissions. Yah, you read that correctly! Talk about cool, and helping out mother nature by doing its part to protect the planet! It has 240V Fast Charging, for home and in public that, with 1 hour of charging provides a range of up to 22 miles! There is also and available 50KW public option, the fastest charging option, that with 30 minutes you get a range of up to 88 miles! When fully charged you have a range of 150 miles! You can also keep track of your vehicle’s charge on your smartphone through NissanConnect® EV App!

Speaking of incredible technology! The LEAF is loaded with gizmos and gadgets that make your life infinitely easier. For example, one such helpful feature is the ProPILOT™ Assist. This feature helps you take care of the little things, like following the car ahead at a preset distance or helping keep you centered in your lane. It can even bring your LEAF to a full stop based on the traffic flow and hold you there.

This is only a taste of what you’ll find in the all new 2018 Nissan LEAF! This vehicle will be released in early 2018, so there is a bit more waiting to do, but soon friends. SOON YOU CAN TEST DRIVE THIS MAGIC at Loughead Nissan! Stop by today to see the 2017 Nissan LEAF while you wait!

You’ve heard of the Nissan LEAF before, right? Great! And of course you thought it was awesome, I mean, an electric car? A completely electric car? I mean, it doesn’t even have an MPG estimate because there are no gallons to have miles per! Seriously, like, the Leaf is pretty sweet. In pretty much every way. I love it a lot. Can you tell? WELL, have I got some news for you! The 2018 Leaf is premiering on the 5th of this month… so like. That’s soon. That is so soon. That means that we will have the all-new 2018 Leaf before we know it. I am SO EXCITED.

Listen, there’s so much to love about the new Leaf. I don’t even have all the facts about the vehicle yet but like, I still know that there’s SO MUCH. The new Nissan Leaf comes with the all-new e-Pedal technology. This means that your accelerator pedal can do basically everything for you (if you flip the switch to have it do so) from speeding up, slowing down, and braking. Seriously. One pedal. It’s amazing!! Of course, you should use the regular old brake pedal for aggressive braking situations, but if you’re on a leisurely drive, that e-Pedal has you covered.

Lots of websites are sharing rumors about the new Leaf, but I don’t want to get too excited. I think we can really expect a lot of similar things from the 2017 Leaf, but the 2018 has definitely been redesigned to look better than ever. We should expect shorter charging times and a longer range than before, but I really don’t know anything for sure. What if it comes with the ability to drive itself on the highway? That would be SUPER awesome, but also it would mean that the future has arrived and I don’t know if I’m ready for that kind of commitment.

Regardless, I am super jazzed for the release of the new Leaf. September 5th, folks!! Then we’ll get all the details we could ever want. I am checking every day, just in case they surprise us. That would be great.

Having your brakes fail while you’re driving is a really scary thing. And if this hasn’t happened to you before, you’ll probably panic if it does. That’s why we’re here to help you learn what to do in this scenario and be prepared for whatever comes – this time, specifically, your brakes failing. Remember that no matter what you should stay calm and take deep breaths so that you can think clearly and not panic. It’s easy to fall into panic and anxiety when things like this happen, but just breathe.

If you notice that your brakes are failing while you are driving, take a deep breath and try them again. Don’t stomp on the pedal, just test it out. It’s very likely that your car has a dual braking system that controls both the front and rear independently, so you could have an Option B at your disposal. You might still be able to stop, even if you don’t have as much stopping power as before, so apply strong and consistent pressure to the brakes to see if you can slow your car down at all.

If this doesn’t work, try using the emergency brake by applying it very slowly. It’ll take longer to do this, but it might work. Otherwise, just take your foot off the gas. If you’re driving stick, downshift the car until it’s slowed down. Automatic transmission cars just require you taking your foot off the gas.

As you slow down, get out of the way of traffic. Work your way to the side of the road, but don’t put on your hazards yet. If you are not in the far right lane, you’ll need your turn signals to let other vehicles know where you’re going. Even though you are having an emergency, you still need to keep in mind other drivers and obey the rules of the road.

Once you’re fully stopped on the side of the road, turn your hazards on, set out any other emergency signaling items (like reflective triangles or flares, especially at night) and call for help. You should have your vehicle taken to a shop or to your dealer for them to inspect and fix your brakes. It is SUPER dangerous to drive without properly working brakes. Even if it seems like your brakes are working okay again without having them checked, your car is still probably not safe to drive until a professional evaluates what’s going on with your brakes.

Ever get caught on the road with a flat tire and not know what to do about it? I think we’ve all been there. But hey, that’s why I’m here – your friendly Blog Mechanic! I am here to tell you all about how to change a flat tire on the fly. If you have the supplies, which you should, this is easy as pie and you should be on the road in a jiffy.

So, the things you’ll need are your owner’s manual, your spare tire, a tire wrench (shaped like a big X), and a jack. These things should have come with your vehicle, so check inside your vehicle to make sure you’ve got ‘em. You should also supplement the standard supplies with wheel wedges, a flashlight, and gloves (if you want – these make things a little easier).

First, pull over to the side of the road slowly. You won’t hurt your car by driving it carefully to the side. Make sure the ground is level and you’re safely away from passing traffic. Turn your hazard lights on and apply the parking brake. If you have wheel wedges, put them behind your tires – if the flat is on the back, put the wedges in front of the front tires. If the flat’s on the front, put them behind your rear wheels.

Then you should remove the hubcap or wheel cover on your tire. This will let you get to the lug nuts that hold your tire onto your vehicle. Protip: use the flat end of your lug wrench to take the hubcap off. If it doesn’t work, check your owner’s manual. Once the cap or cover is off, loosen the lug nuts – don’t take them off all the way! Just loosen them a little.

Next, put the jack under the vehicle and jack it up just enough that that flat tire is six inches above the ground. You need to check your owner’s manual to find out where you are supposed to be placing the jack. If you place it improperly, you can cause damage to your car. Then you can take the lug nuts off all the way and take off the tire.

Put the spare tire on the lug bolts and tighten the lug nuts by hand before lowering the vehicle back down to the ground – don’t lower it all the way, just lower it enough that the tire is touching the ground but the full weight of the car is not on the tire. Then you can tighten the lug nuts all the way and lower the vehicle down fully. Replace the hubcap, put all of your equipment away, and then go to a shop or dealership as soon as you can – spare tires aren’t meant to be driven on at high speeds or for long distances!

I hope this helps – changing a flat tire isn’t as hard as it seems, and anyone can do it. Just make sure you always have what you need in your car so that you can take care of it if you need to. Thanks!