While many drivers think driving with a crack in their windshield is okay, this is not the case. A cracked windshield is dangerous and poses both legal and safety concerns that should be addressed immediately.
These risks are dependent on the size, location, and movement of the crack, but most importantly, it obstructs vision while driving.
Decreased Visibility
Windshield cracks can obstruct your view while driving, especially when they are located in the driver’s area. This can make it difficult to turn, change lanes, or scan the road ahead for dangers. Additionally, the cracks can reflect sunlight and create blinding glare that can distract drivers and lead to accidents. The cracks can also trap dirt and sand, which can further obscure the view. This is particularly dangerous when drivers need perfect clarity to avoid collisions in foggy or rainy weather.
Small windshield cracks and chips may not seem like a huge problem at first, but they should always be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Regardless of their size, these cracks can spread and worsen over time due to temperature fluctuations, dirt build-up, frozen gaps or frost, and stress from bumpy rides. If left unattended, they can spread to cover the whole windshield and block your view.
Besides decreasing visibility, cracked windshields can also obscure the sensors used by advanced driver assistance systems such as blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning systems. This can affect the performance of these safety features and can even lead to their malfunction or failure.
While some products on the market claim to repair or reduce windshield cracks, they usually do not work well and are very expensive. Additionally, these products can weaken the glass and increase its chances of shattering in the event of a rollover accident, which could seriously injure passengers or even cause them to be thrown out of the vehicle.
In addition, a cracked windshield can be considered a serious traffic violation in some states. Law enforcement officers can stop your car if they notice the crack and will cite you for operating an unsafe vehicle. Moreover, your insurance company might not cover any damage or injury if you are involved in a car accident while driving with a cracked windshield. Therefore, getting the cracks fixed before you hit the road is best.
Decreased Protection
A windshield is a crucial part of your car’s structure, protecting the occupants of your vehicle and their cargo from debris and flying elements. It also helps absorb the impact of a collision and supports airbags when they deploy. A cracked windshield can compromise all of these functions and make your vehicle unsafe to drive. Therefore, it’s essential to prioritize timely windshield repair to ensure your car remains safe and functional on the road.
The biggest risk of driving with a crack in your windshield is the impaired visibility that comes with it. Your view of the road is obstructed by chips and cracks, creating distracting glare that can lead to accidents on the highway. Even a small crack can cause your attention to be drawn from the road, which is especially dangerous in foggy or snowy conditions.
Windshield damage can also distort light and create prisms that blind you. This can interfere with your ability to read traffic signals and see the road ahead of you, which can also cause an accident. Additionally, a cracked windshield can affect drivers in other vehicles by reflecting headlights or street lights into their field of vision.
Finally, a cracked windshield can weaken the glass and cause it to shatter in an accident, which may injure you or your passengers. This is why it’s important to have any damage to your windshield repaired immediately.
Whether you’re a DIY car enthusiast who enjoys making auto repairs alone or simply don’t want to pay for professional services, it can be tempting to ignore windshield damage and continue driving your vehicle. However, it’s important to understand that there are laws against driving with a cracked windshield in many states, and if you get pulled over and caught by police, you could face hefty fines.
Windshields are made of resilient material that’s designed to resist impact and other forces. But it can easily break or crack under stress if it’s not properly maintained. Cracks can spread quickly, putting your safety and the safety of other car occupants in danger. They can also reduce the effectiveness of advanced driver assistance systems, which rely on functioning windows and mirrors to function properly.
Decreased Structural Integrity
Even a small crack in the windshield can weaken it enough to shatter when exposed to pressure or extreme heat. This can put you and any passengers inside your vehicle at risk of severe cuts from shattered glass. This type of damage can also leave the vehicle vulnerable to collapse in the event of a rollover accident. The windshield is responsible for up to 45% of the cabin’s structural integrity in a front-end collision and up to 60% in a rollover.
The cracks in your windshield may not be an immediate danger to you, but they will most likely worsen over time. This is because they are typically caused by temperature changes and other conditions outside of your control, such as dirt build-up, ice formation, and bumpy rides. Eventually, they will grow to cover the area directly in front of you while driving, which can cause a major distraction and even reduce your field of vision. The cracks will sometimes reflect sunlight, creating a dangerous sun glare.
You can avoid this by getting your windshield repaired as soon as a crack forms. However, you must take precautions while you drive to prevent it from spreading further, such as not slamming your door or hitting potholes. It is also a good idea to keep the interior of the vehicle clean and clear to prevent dust from accumulating in the cracked areas.
Aside from being a safety hazard, driving with a cracked windshield is actually illegal in some states. The reason is because it can distract you from the road and potentially lead to a serious accident. It can also put the driver and passengers of other vehicles at risk of being cut by shattered glass and even crushed by your vehicle’s frame.
Windshields are designed to withstand the forces of impact and debris that can shake a car, which is why it’s so important to always check for damage regularly. While it’s not a requirement in all cars, most drivers have comprehensive auto insurance policies that can cover the costs of a damaged windshield and any necessary repairs.
Decreased Safety
Your windshield is designed to protect you and your passengers, especially during accidents. It can tolerate harsh impact without shattering and is a vital part of your car’s structure, providing 30 percent of the vehicle’s overall support. A crack in your windshield will be unable to take this impact and can lead to injury or death for you and your passengers. Additionally, a cracked windshield can increase the risk of being ejected from the vehicle during an accident, which is even more dangerous when you’re not wearing a seatbelt.
Cracks in a windshield can also distract drivers, particularly when they line up with the driver’s line of vision. In addition, they can reflect sunlight and cause glares that could impair visibility and cause an accident. This is even more of a danger when driving at night as the prism-distorted light can be blinding to other drivers on the road. Moisture, sand, and dirt can also seep through the crack and obscure vision, and this is extremely hazardous in foggy or rainy weather when you need full clarity to drive safely.
A cracked windshield can also reduce the effectiveness of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in your vehicle, such as blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning systems. These systems rely on the clarity of your windshield and side mirrors to function properly, so if they’re compromised, your car may be unable to detect other vehicles and hazards on the road.
Finally, driving with a cracked windshield can be illegal in some states. If a law enforcement officer sees it, they can give you a ticket for operating an unsafe vehicle. This is an important safety concern that should not be ignored, as a windshield crack can spread quickly if exposed to extreme heat or cold, making it more difficult to see and drive your vehicle safely.
While you might think that a cracked windshield isn’t worth worrying about or getting a repair done, it’s important to remember that this glass plays a crucial role in the structural integrity of your vehicle and protects you from the elements and other road debris. If you don’t have the money to pay for a professional repair or auto glass replacement, it’s best to keep it repaired as soon as you notice any damage so that it doesn’t continue to expand and compromise your safety on the road.