Every city seems to have it’s own driving dynamic. Anchorage is a fast moving city with a few road quirks and light traffic enforcement—and most of the time we like it this way. When conditions are good it’s a hard charging city with people on the move and no apologies. Winter exacerbates our hard charging behavior into explosive accidents.
Even when a driver does everything correctly, another driver’s inexperience or inattentive behavior can suddenly and severely change the driving dynamic for everyone.
Help yourself navigate the rules-of-the-road and winter driving in Anchorage with these key observations and tips.
Put down the phone.
Focus is critical, even at stop lights. Use hands-free tech and keep your eyes and attention focused on the road around you.
Anchorage drivers run the yellow and, as a result, sometimes the red lights too.
Don’t be too eager to pull forward on a green. Like a pedestrian look left, look right before crossing the intersection.
Stop early, leave some space.
When stopping at red lights, you’ll want to stop early and then creep forward as cars approach from behind. Paying attention to approaching vehicles will allow you to give a little extra space to avoid a serious accident.
Be a good neighbor, clear your roof.
It’s easy to hit the remote-start and hit the road when the window is defrosted. Take a moment to clear the snow and ice from the hood and roof. Blowing snow cuts visibility and chunks of debris create hazards for motorists behind you.
All-wheel drive isn’t all-wheel stop.
All-wheel drive systems only provide assistance when accelerating. They offer no advantage when braking. Be sure you’re running a good winter tire for Anchorage’s icy intersections.
Slow down.
Posted speed limits are for dry conditions. Oddly enough, moose enjoy winter weather and do not care about the parent-teacher meeting you’re late for.
Tailgating is bad.
Leave space to stop. Tailgating takes options such as braking or lane changes away from other drivers to be able to avoid accidents.
Plan for the unexpected.
Have an exit plan of where to go. Always be aware of your environment and surroundings—parking lots, people, moving vehicles, animals, trees, shrubs… everything.
Sunglasses.
Yes! Sunglasses. Polarized specifically. They’ll help cut ice glare and improve visibility in conditions other than bright sun.
Avoid sudden, exaggerated movements.
A skid can be initiated when the inertia of the vehicle is different that the direction wheels are heading. Take your foot off the gas, don’t slam the brakes. Turn into the skid and steer the vehicle back to the desired direction.
Check the conditions.
Us the online tools Alaska511 for road conditions and Anchorage Police Nixle alerts do a good job of informing drivers of current conditions. Check out the Facebook group, “Glenn Highway Traffic Report” for user generated reports about road conditions between Anchorage and the MatSu.
Keep a coat and gloves in the car.
We’re Alaskan, we’re tough and acclimated to quick bursts from the house to the car. Don’t get stuck responding, or worse, in an accident without some gear. Add a first aid kit, flares, and some hand warmers to be prepared.
Turn off lane keep assist.
If your vehicle is equipped with Pilot Assist, lane keep and other assistive technologies drivers may consider deactivating the technologies that automatically steer the vehicle—the ruts in the roads confuse the systems and can steer vehicles into guardrails or ditches.
Avoid cruise control.
Even roads that look clear can have sudden slippery spots which often triggers cruise control to accelerate erratically. Using the brake on these spots will could cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle.
Invest in good wipers.
A good winter wiper can help maintain visibility in heavy snow conditions. Also, use a winterized washer fluid. Wipers on = lights on.
Winter tires.
Studded or studless winter tires offer the best traction because the rubber is designed to remain pliable in cold weather. Snow tires also offer siping and big blocks to power through snow.
Winter is dangerous for for all drivers but it's especially hard for those who've never experienced it behind the wheel. With some common sense, remaining observant and a little luck we'll get through it together. Be safe out there.
Nissan crushes the competition with powerful engines, impressive towing and commercial-grade components backed by America’s Best Truck Warranty—5 Years/100,000 Mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty that surpasses all competitors.
Warranty Coverage Includes:
The 5.6-liter Endurance® 32-valve V8 gas engine standard in the Titan and Titan XD.
The Titan XD’s available Cummins V8 Turbo Diesel engine with 550 lbs-ft of torque.
The Titan’s full boxed, full-length ladder frame and the reinforced boxed, full-length ladder frame version found in the Titan XD.
Available Around View® Monitor and Trailer Light Check for those one-man towing jobs
The durable multi-leaf rear suspension with solid axle and stabilizer bar.
Here’s how the 2017 Titan Truck Warranty matches up against the 2017 in-class competition.
BUMPER TO BUMPER
NISSAN:
5YRS / 100,000 MILES
Ford:
3YRS / 36,000 MILES
Chevy:
3YRS / 36,000 MILES
Dodge:
3YRS / 36,000 MILES
Toyota:
3YRS / 36,000 MILES
POWERTRAIN GAS ENGINES
NISSAN:
5YRS / 100,000 MILES
Ford:
5YRS / 60,000 MILES
Chevy:
5YRS / 60,000 MILES
Dodge:
5YRS / 60,000 MILES
Toyota:
5YRS / 60,000 MILES
POWERTRAIN DIESEL ENGINES
NISSAN:
5YRS / 100,000 MILES
Ford:
5YRS / 100,000 MILES
Chevy:
5YRS / 100,000 MILES
Dodge:
5YRS / 100,000 MILES
*Claim based on years/mileage (whichever occurs first) covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty basic coverage. Ward’s 2016 Large Pickup Segmentation and Small Pickup Segmentation v. 2017 Titan and Titan XD and Wards Light Vehicle Segmentation: 2016/2017 Nissan NV Cargo, NV Passenger v. 2016 Large Van Class; 2016/2017 Nissan NV200® v. 2016 Small Van Class. Commercial Vans compared only. Nissan’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty basic coverage excludes tires, corrosion coverage and federal and California emission performance and defect coverage. Other terms and conditions apply. See dealer for complete warranty details.
Get it done with a Nissan Titan and enter to win a Polaris ATV.
You’ve seen them on the road – and heard about them in the news. The brand new Nissan Titan is the most awarded truck of the year….and the awards are still coming in!
Just recently, Truck Trend chose the 2017 Nissan Titan ‘Best Pickup of the Year’ and Motor Week Drivers’ Choice awarded the new Nissan Titan for Best Pickup of 2017.
Why? It’s Titan’s impressive capability: choose the 5.6L V8 gas engine OR the Cummins diesel. Both more than capable of towing heavy loads and packed with more muscle than ever before. The Nissan Titan outperforms the Ford F-150 in braking; acceleration and evasive action performance and more:
Better Acceleration, Handling, and Braking than Ford F-150 V8
Better Standing-Start Acceleration than Ford F-150 V8
Better Overall Braking Performance – Unloaded or While Towing – than Ford F-150 V8
Better Braking Performance While Towing than Ford F-150 V8
Better 0-60 MPH Acceleration, Handling, and Brake than Ford F-150 V8
Better 0-60 MPH Acceleration than Ford F-150 V8
Better Quarter-Mile Acceleration than Ford F-150 V8
Better Overall Handling Performance – on Wet or Dry Pavement – than Ford F-150 V8
Better Cornering – on Wet or Dry Pavement – than Ford F-150 V8
On top of all that, the Nissan Titan carries the best warranty in the industry. Five Years – One Hundred Thousand Mile Bumper-to-Bumper. It’s America’s Best Warranty. No other truck manufacturers’ warranty comes close to the Nissan Titan bumper to bumper warranty.
Stop in to Continental Nissan and test drive the new Nissan Titan this month and see, feel and drive the Nissan Titan innovation for yourself. You’ll be automatically entered to win a Polaris ATV – just for giving us your thoughts.
Continental Nissan is open seven days a week –
Monday thru Friday – 9a to 9a
Saturday 9a to 8p
Sunday 11a to 6p
For the past five years, Continental Subaru has been the title sponsor of Anchorage’s Pride Week – a celebration of Alaskan diversity. This year, Alaska Pride celebrated it’s 40th Anniversary during Pride week June 17th thru June 24th.
The week-long celebration consisted of city wide events including the Youth Arts Showcase, the annual 5k Rainbow Run, Ride for Change, Pride Film Fest, Drag Queen Bingo (proceeds go towards Anchorage’s Identity organization) and culminating with the largest Pride Parade and Pride Fest in Anchorage’s history.
Over 10,000 community members attended the yearly Pride Parade and Festival held on Saturday, June 24th. Over 150 vendors and individual and group performers provided attendees with food and entertainment with local performers. Special guest star Bob the Drag Queen – a LGBT activist best known for winning the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Over 10,000 community members attended the yearly Pride Parade and Festival held on Saturday, June 24th. Over 150 vendors and individual and group performers provided attendees with food and entertainment with local performers. Special guest star Bob the Drag Queen – a LGBT activist best known for winning the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Continental Subaru continues to be committed in supporting the Anchorage community with time, effort and funding in meaningful ways that provide support for our customers, employees and community interests.
