What to Do About a Cracked Windshield?
The windshield, also known as a windscreen, is situated at the front of the vehicle, responsible for providing safety to the driver and passengers. More importantly, it gives a clear vision to the driver. Your car's windscreen is always at a high risk of getting damaged whenever you drive your vehicle as it is located at the front of the car; it is likely to take damage from anything as small as insects, pelted stones or debris on the road.
What seems like a small chip can turn into a crack which can spread over time if not taken care of or eventually replaced. There is a mandatory law in many countries that if you have a broken, cracked windshield, you cannot operate your vehicle or pass the car safety inspection. If your windscreen is broken, it should be your first and foremost priority to get it fixed. One should never compromise on safety.
RISK OF A DAMAGED WINDSCREEN
The following points will explain the risks associated with a damaged windscreen:
AIRBAGS UNABLE TO DEPLOY
If you get into an accident, your car windscreen is responsible for the timely deployment of airbags. The windshield provides support to the airbags to deploy towards the direction of the passengers and the driver. In a damaged windscreen, there is a possibility that your airbags might not deploy in case of an accident. Why? They are not getting the necessary support from the windshield.
BLOCKS VISION OF THE DRIVER
Windscreen cracks, especially those directly in the line of sight of the driver, can block his visibility or distract him, which may lead to an accident and risk the lives of other people. Moreover, sunlight is highly likely to be reflected off the crack and make the driver blind while driving.
UNABLE TO PROTECT PASSENGERS
Car windscreen is not ordinary glass; it is a laminated glass which, upon being broken, will ensure that the glass stays intact and does not break into sharp pieces or fall on the driver and passengers. But if your windscreen is already broken, then the glass will fall on the driver and passengers, leading to severe injuries.
WHEN IS WINDSHIELD REPAIR APPLICABLE?
There is no second opinion that getting your windshield repaired is relatively less expensive than buying a completely new one. However, windshield repairing mainly depends on factors like size, depth and location of the crack. If the damage is too serious, then it is beyond repair.
Conversely, if the damage is not too deep, then there is a possibility that the expert would recommend repairing it. If the damage is in line with the driver's vision and is causing hindrance, in that case, the windscreen needs to be replaced. If you have a broken windscreen, you should get it checked without wasting any additional time because even a tiny breakage or a chip can spread further in a matter of days.
WHEN TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD?
A damaged windshield is a danger for the driver and passengers, and the other people on the road. So, replacing a broken windshield irrespective of the amount of damage should always be a top priority. PitStopArabia highly recommends that you get your broken windshield checked by professionals at the earliest. There are a few ways you can fix your cracked windscreen even at home by using a strong glue, but that is not recommended as it will only endanger your safety even though you might think it's fixed. The only right thing to do is to get it replaced by the experts.
Wrap Up
This concludes today’s article on what to do about a broken windshield. If you have any questions, feel free to let us know. Lastly, we would once again like to stress on getting a broken windshield repaired or replaced right away. Thank You.