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Deer crossing intersections can be a serious hazard for drivers, particularly in areas with high deer populations. These animals can suddenly dart out onto the road, causing accidents that can result in significant damage to vehicles and even injuries to drivers and passengers. There are several things that drivers can do to be more vigilant when driving near deer crossing intersections. The team here at Zappone CDJR has some tips to help you stay safe on the road: Slow down in areas with high deer populations. When you're driving through an area known for deer crossings, reduce your speed to give yourself more time to react if a deer appears. Use your high beams. When driving at night, use your high beams to increase your visibility. However, be sure to dim your headlights when other vehicles are approaching. Stay alert. Keep your eyes on the road and scan ahead for any signs of deer activity, such as deer crossing signs, wildlife overpasses or underpasses, or other animals on the side of the road. Be prepared to brake. If you see a deer crossing the road ahead, slow down and be prepared to brake if necessary. Do not swerve. If you encounter a deer on the road, do not swerve to avoid it. This can cause you to lose control of your vehicle or collide with other objects. Instead, brake firmly and try to avoid the deer if possible.

You have heard it time and time again. Texting and driving is a problem many drivers are becoming too accustomed to. This week, we want to remind you of a few of the reasons why you should put your phone down when you start your vehicle and leave it down! Check out those reasons below and start using them in your everyday driving routine. And if you have a teen driver, it’s exceptionally important to get them to start practicing safe driving by leaving their phone down and eyes on the road! Zappone CJDR’s Reasons Not To Text And Drive: #1: It is illegal - if you are caught, you can expect hefty fines and insurance rate spike. No matter how short the text may be, these poor decisions can and will leave lasting effects on your wallet and perhaps someone’s life. #2: Think about your passengers - if you are traveling with children, friends, or pets inside your vehicle, think how much damage you can cause in the event of a collision due to texting and driving. Not only are you putting your life at a much higher risk, but you are also doing the same to their lives as well. #3: Protect pedestrians - texting and driving will take your attention off the road and will not allow you to see everything that may be in your path. Pedestrians are small and less noticeable than other vehicles, if you are looking at your cell-phone there is a slim chance you will see the pedestrians. #4: Consider your fellow motorists - you share the road with other motorists, who may be traveling with their children or on their way to see them. By texting and driving, you run the risk of causing harm to other motorists, their family, and their life. #5: It only takes a few seconds - as we said before, you could be sending an “ok” but, it only takes a few seconds to travel the length of a football field if you are traveling 55 mph. Take the time to pull aside and park your vehicle if you need to send a text message. If not, it can wait until you reach your destination.

Can you believe Halloween weekend is here and the team at Zappone CJDR in Granville is winding down from our busy month during Zaptoberfest?! We surely can’t - time if flying by. But there is still time to stop in and upgrade into a brand new CJDR during the last week of Zaptoberfest! No matter what type of model you’re searching for, we have something for everyone right here at Zappone! So browse our online inventory and hurry on by to take a test drive in what could be your brand new CJDR! And of course, we promised you a few safety tips to ensure you and your family are staying safe this Halloween season! Below are a few tips and tricks to keep you and your littles safe and we encourage you to share those tips with them, as well! And Happy Halloween! Get out, stay safe, and enjoy yourself this weekend! Tips For A Safe Halloween: Make trick-or-treating safer Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters. Give out treats outdoors, if possible. Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take. Wash hands before handling treats. Wear a mask. Wear a mask Make your cloth mask part of your costume. A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask. Do NOT wear a costume mask over a cloth mask. It can make breathing more difficult. Masks should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you Indoors and outdoors, you are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when you are in close contact with others for a long time. Wash your hands Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it after touching objects or other people. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Parents: supervise young children using hand sanitizer. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home and before you eat any treats. *Advice from the CDC. End Zaptoberfest In A New CJDR! Find Yours Here!

Yes, winter is STILL HERE. I know we’re all dreaming of pool days and warm sunshine but unfortunately, that time is not here yet. We’re still dealing with some pretty chilly temperatures which means your vehicle is taking a beating! That’s not good for you, your vehicle or your wallet. So, this week we have a few vehicle tips to ensure you and your vehicle make it through the winter happy and healthy. Well, for your vehicle it needs to be serviced and for yourself, take some vitamin C and hope that you don’t get a nasty flu! Anyways, back to the winter vehicle tips - check them out below and stop in or give us a call to schedule your service appointment before it’s too late! Don’t skimp on service: I know a lot of drivers think skipping on service isn’t that bad for their vehicle. When in fact, it’s terrible for their vehicle! We recommend spending a few minutes with our team and have our mechanics check for any leaks, badly worn hoses, or other parts needing to be replaced or repaired. A simple maintenance check-up will make a big difference in frigid temperatures and will give you peace of mind when you’re on the road. Know your vehicle: We hope you know your vehicle, but how well do you know it? Do you know how your vehicle handles in snowy or icy winter weather conditions? We hope you do especially living here in New York when weather can be a bit wacky at times. Regardless, we want you to drive slow, take your time, and ALWAYS clean off your vehicle completely before leaving. Also, a great set of winter tires can also enhance your success in winter weather and even having the correct PSI will offer better driving results. Be smart & stock your vehicle: As you know, winter weather is unpredictable and road conditions are no better, that’s why you should be prepared for anything and everything in the winter months. We recommend having a plan and proper gear packed in the event of an emergency. What should you pack? We recommend packing a small snow shovel, ice scraper, and snow broom to clean off or around your vehicle. Also, jumper cables, a flare, and emergency markers are great tools to have if you ever find yourself stuck needing assistance. You should ALWAYS keep a blanket, warm clothing, a phone charger, and something to eat or drink in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Set yourself up for success and let’s make it through the rest of the winter! Service With Our Professionals Today!

The weather here in New York has been pretty brutal the last few days and we want to help you keep your vehicle in check and working properly. While we brought you a few helpful winter car care tips in December, we want to refresh your memory and bring you a few extras that will help stay on the road and out of the shop! So, check out these tips below and stop in to see our team for a quick checkup to ensure that your vehicle is ready to get you through the west of these winter temps. Have your battery tested and replaced if it is dying. Also, ask to have your connections secured and hoses checked for any damage, bulging, or cracking. Replace your wiper blades and invest in a set that is designed for winter weather conditions. Pro-tip! Do not try to remove snow or ice with wiper blades, it will cause damage to your wipers. If your vehicle has snow and/ or ice on it – clean it off. Especially the windows, roof, and the hood. Completely clean your vehicle off… don’t be that guy! Check the oil and all other vehicle fluids. Extreme temperatures can alter a vehicle’s fluids so ask to have them checked and make sure they are still in good health and will get you through this winter. Think about swapping out your old tires for a fresh new set! And be sure to check their PSI is at the proper level. Tire pressure can fluctuate in the winter due to extremely cold temperatures. We recommend checking your tires before heading out in the morning to ensure you won’t experience a blowout. Plus, incorrect PSI can hinder your gas mileage. Invest in a roadside emergency kit or make your own. These kits come with plenty of helpful tools that come in handy in a variety of situations. Trust us – get one today or create your own! Winter is known for being dark, make sure your lighting system is checked and healthy. If they need to be replaced or cleaned, give us a call! The time to service is now! Give us a call today or schedule your service appointment with our team online below! We look forward to getting your vehicle in check to make it through these last few weeks of winter! Service With Zappone & Save!

We got winter car care tips, yes we do! We got winter car care tips, how about you?! This week we are sharing our top winter car care tips that should be at the top of your list! Check them out below and stop in to schedule your service appointment or give us a call! Don’t forget to browse our service and parts specials pages for a few ways to save on service! Keep your battery healthy. Dropping temperatures can push your dying battery over the edge and leave you stranded out in the cold. That’s no good so, we are here to help encourage you to stop in and have your battery tested before it is too late. If you have a battery tester at home, great! Give it a go and if you’re in need of a replacement stop in to see our team this December and let us get you squared away. Replace your wipers. Okay, this one seems to always fall to the bottom of my list because I am always forgetting that my vehicle has a set of wipers until it rains! But, wiper blades begin to lose their effectiveness after six months. That means you should be changing your wiper blades twice a year. We recommend picking a set to use that are specifically designed for weather conditions like snow and ice. *Pro tip! Do not use your wipers to clean your windshield or rear window of ice and snow. It will do damage to your frames which can be expensive to replace! Clean off your windows and roof. We wish we didn’t have to tell you but clean off your vehicle, totally. Front to back, top to bottom. Get rid of all the snow and ice that has built up on your vehicle before heading out. Leftover snow or ice can lead to potentially dangerous situations for you or other drivers. Don’t risk it - spend that extra minute cleaning off your roof, trunk, and hood! Replace your tires. Let’s be honest, when was the last time that you took a look at your tires? It’s probably been a while and we understand why. No worries but now might be the time the perfect time to get your ride into the shop for a fresh new set of tires. Winter tires will give you added confidence when it comes to driving through those winter weather conditions. So, stop in and grab a new set. Be Safe, Drive A New CJDR Home Today!

If you’re anything like me, you like to try to squeeze each and every drop of gasoline that you can out of your last fill-up. Now, while you think that this is good for your wallet, it is actually bad for it in the long run, as well as your gas tank. And, I am 100 percent positive that you have heard your parents say “don’t let your tank drop below a quarter,” at least one time. This week, I am telling you why you should listen to them and hopefully, you’ll stop squeezing each drop out of each fill-up. Fuel Gauges Aren’t 100% Accurate I said it - that number on your dash, that’s not always accurate. Depending on your driving habits, this number can fluctuate and in turn, leave you stranded on the side of the road if you like to run on the empty side. You should consider this an estimate, not an exact mileage to empty. Don’t put yourself at risk or in harm’s way when you suddenly stop in the middle of the roadway because you were too lazy to fill up! You’re Wearing Out The Pump Did you know that gasoline acts as a coolant for your vehicle’s electric fuel-pump motor, as well as your engine? No? Well, it’s true. That means your vehicle needs gasoline to keep cool and when you run low, your vehicle will begin to suck in air and won't be getting the correct amount of fuel to keep cool. And that’s bad, duh! While sucking in air, this allows hot air to get into your system and will eventually wear out your pump. In short, this repair is costly and 100% preventable. Sediment Implications Are REAL Each time you fill up your tank, the sediments in the gasoline settle to the bottom of your tank. Gross, I know! When you run low on fuel, those sediments get stirred up into your gasoline and are sucked up into your tank. This dirty mixture can end up in either your fuel line or your engine which will cause big, big problems down the road. Long story short, fill up your gas tank and don’t even think about letting your vehicle’s tank dip below a quarter. Trust us, it will only benefit you in the long run! Service With Zappone And Save!

Have you ever found yourself filled with rage driving down the road? Either some knucklehead cut you off or someone forgot to use their blinker and all of a sudden you’re ready to give them a piece of your mind or flip them the bird. Now, we are all about positive energy here at Zappone and we want to give you some of our defensive driving tactics to help keep you cool, calm, and collected out on the roadway. Well, of course, these tips will also help keep you safe, as well. Check them out below and we hope you will start using them during your everyday commute to ensure a better, safer driving experience for everyone! Anticipate other drivers to make mistakes. Always be in control of your vehicle and keep your focus on the road. Don’t let cell phones, the radio, friends, or a heated argument distract you from being a safe driver. Slow down and take your time on the road. Stay with the flow of traffic, but be mindful of speed limits and other drivers coming to a stop or changing lanes. Click it or get a ticket. You’ve heard this for years and we’re telling you to do the same. Don’t risk your life or someone else’s because you’re not a fan of seatbelts. Play it safe and yield when you’re not sure what another driver intends to do. Even if you have the right of way, give the other driver the benefit of the doubt and let them pass first. Watch for stop lights and stop signs. Distractions will happen, but driving through a red light or a stop sign can lead to some potentially tragic collisions. Use your blinkers, always. Driving isn’t a guessing game, don’t make other drivers guess where you’re turning or if you are. Use your blinkers and hope they have the same driving courtesy as you do. Take a deep breath and don’t let road rage creep up. People make mistakes on the road and it is our job to let them go, proceed to our destination, and be safe while doing so. Don’t let the actions of other drivers negatively affect you. Choose a safe vehicle with a high safety rating to ensure that every drive will be a safe one from start to finish. Leave some space between you and other drivers. Collisions happen most often when a driver is too close and another stops too quick. Give your fellow motorists some space and prevent those collisions from happening in the first place! Drive Safe In A New Ride From Zappone!

Have you ever been driving down the road and *BANG*. You start to feel a hard pull on a particular side of your vehicle, either front or back, left or right. Maybe you can’t control your vehicle and you start to panic because you are not sure what to do. This my friend, is a tire blowout. And if you haven’t experienced this, I hope you never do. A blowout can be frightening, especially if it happens when you are traveling at a high speed with traffic surrounding you. Or with little ones in the backseat. This week, we will take a look at how to handle a tire blowout! A tire blowout has a few distinct sounds that will let you know what you’re experiencing is indeed a blowout. First, you will hear a loud noise, a bang - this is the tire blowing out/ popping. Secondly, you'll hear a whooshing noise - this is the air escaping from the tire. Thirdly, you will then begin to hear a flapping noise - this is the deflated tire hitting against the roadway. Next, you will begin to feel a strong pull to the side which the tire has blown out. One of the most important parts in handling a blowout is remaining calm. We know these situations can be very scary, especially if you have passengers or children inside the vehicle with you. But, trust us, if you remain calm through the blowout, you be able to make it to the side of the road safely and without causing harm to yourself or others. Next, don’t slam on your brake. This is probably the worst reaction you could have when experiencing a blowout. Slamming on your brake pedal can cause an increasingly dangerous situation for yourself as well as other drivers on the roadway. Put your hazards on and let off the gas, with two hands on the wheel firmly steer your vehicle straight and let it slow gradually on its own. When it is safe to do so, make your way to the side of the road. Eventually, your vehicle will come to a complete stop and you can put your vehicle into park and turn off the engine. When you’ve completed this, make sure it is safe for you to exit the vehicle so you can assess the situation of your tire. If you can safely change your flat, do so. If you are not sure how to change your tire or think you may need assistance, reach out to a friend or to roadside assistance. It’s okay to seek help if you’re unsure how or if you can do something! Service Your Tires With Zappone!

Do you ever have one of those days where you are driving along and ka-bam! Slam! Jam! - A pothole appears out of seemingly nowhere. One so big that it nearly swallows up your entire car.. Alright, alright, maybe it wasn’t that big but it sure seemed like it. Living in New York, we are no strangers to those lurking little demons that can cause your wallet hundreds of dollars in repairs for your vehicle. Check out our tips to saving your car from a visit to the shop and how to avoid potholes altogether! Slow it down - the worst thing you can do if you encounter a pothole is driving through at a fast pace. The faster you power through the pothole, the worse the damage will be. Take is slow, or try to maneuver around the pothole. Space it out - take some space for yourself, if you’re following the vehicle in front of you too close you risk the chance of hitting the same pothole they hit. If you give yourself enough space, you will have time to react and avoid hitting the pothole. Puddles are the worst - if you see a puddle, avoid that puppy! Puddles are infamous for hiding a deep crater that your car can and will be sucked into. Be cautious when you approach a puddle and avoid it at all costs. Don’t brake - in the event that you do hit a pothole, do not, I repeat do not brake. If you do hit a pothole and brake you run the chance of doing more damage to your vehicle than just driving through. Hold on for life - hitting a pothole can not only do damage to your vehicle but can violently jolt you and your passengers. Make sure you have a solid grip on the steering wheel so you don’t lose control of your vehicle when passing through. Fill up those tires - keeping your tires properly inflated will give your vehicle added protection when passing through potholes. This does not mean that you can hit potholes at full speed, just that you will have a little-added cushion. It is important to take care of damage as soon as you notice it. If you have any questions give us a call or stop by our service department! Avoid Potholes In A New Jeep

Your headlights are one of the most important safety features on your vehicle, though you might not recognize them as such! If you’re having any problems with your headlights, you need to get them addressed as soon as possible. You risk getting pulled over or into an accident if your headlights don’t work properly, so maintaining them is paramount! If your headlights work, but are dimmer than you think they should be (or too dim to properly illuminate the road for you), the first thing you should do is clean them. Use cleaning solution and a clean microfiber cloth and give them a nice wash. If that didn’t help, come ask us about upgrading your headlight bulbs or reconditioning the plastic lenses to restore that brightness! If one of your headlights is out, then it is probably a burned out bulb that needs to be replaced. Don’t wait on this one - just because you still have one working headlight doesn’t mean you’re not a hazard on the road. If both of your headlights are dead, well, why haven’t you gotten them fixed yet?? It’s probably a broken or burnt out relay or control switch that needs to be replaced. Finally, if both of your headlights work fine but get a little dimmer in situations like when you’re accelerating, you might have a problem with your charging system. Tell us about it at your next oil change, and we’ll take a look for you. Service Doesn’t Have To Cost An Arm And A Peg Leg

When it comes to driving, I consider myself one of the best drivers I know… that is, when it’s light outside. After the sun goes down, all bets are off because my night vision is really seriously horrible. It’s not fun, especially because I like driving, and I like to think that I am a good driver. But when it’s dark I turn into a grandma, and that’s not my style at all. Thankfully, I’ve found some good tips over the years for improving your driving at night with bad night vision. These tips won’t fix your eyes, but it’ll keep you safe even when your vision isn't the best. First, if you have “night driving” glasses that are tinted in any way, throw them away right now. I am sorry you fell for that scam. The tint blocks light, and light is the thing you need the most of at night - do you see where I am going with this? If oncoming headlights blind you and throw you off, a great trick is to watch the white line at the side of the road. Keep your head straight, but just cast your eyes to the line. You’ll be able to see with your periphery, but you won’t get stuck with spots on your retinas smack dab in the middle of your field of view. Finally, if your vision is so bad that you think you shouldn’t be driving at night - don’t do it. Work with your schedule, find a ride, take public transport - just don’t drive at night if you feel that you cannot do so safely. If it’s between staying home and driving somewhere, well. I’d rather not be in an accident than in one, even if that means staying home and suffering the FOMO. It’s worth it! Ask Us About Your Headlights!