Why You Should Never Drive With a Cracked or Chipped Windshield

The windshield is one of the key safety components in a vehicle. This device protects you from elements, bugs, dust, and other debris. Also, windshields block most harmful UV rays to protect you and your car's interior.

But with the windshield constantly exposed to road debris, harsh weather, extreme temperatures, and collisions, damage can easily occur. Whether your windshield sustains minor chips or star break, combination, or stress cracks, you should get the auto glass repaired or replaced immediately. The following are the dangers of driving with a damaged windshield.

Compromised Structural Support

The windshield contributes to up to 45 percent of the car's structural integrity. Modern auto glasses have an interlayer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB). In case of a head-on collision, this layer will help the auto glass to absorb energy and prevent the glass from shattering. The windshield will then absorb extreme forces and pressure to minimize the severity of the impact to the vehicle's occupants.

For the auto glass to withstand such an amount of force and pressure, it needs to be in top condition. Chips and cracks can weaken a windshield's structure and compromise its effectiveness in protecting occupants during a crash. In the case of a rollover accident, a damaged windshield can cause the vehicle structure to crush occupants. 

Driving a car with a damaged windshield increases the risk of sustaining severe and traumatic injuries in the case of a collision or rollover. To prevent such adverse consequences, remedy any windshield issue problem before you get on the road.

Ineffective Deployment of Airbags

After a serious collision, airbags deploy to provide a softer surface for vehicle occupants. But for the airbags to deploy correctly, they need a backstop only provided by an intact windshield.

If the windshield has damage, the glass can detach after an accident. And if the auto glass detaches, the airbags can malfunction or deploy improperly, causing otherwise avoidable injuries or even fatalities.

Obstructed View

One of the primary functions of a windshield is to provide drivers with a clear, unobstructed view of the road. And while a well-maintained windshield can offer that, damaged auto glass can't.

Driving a vehicle with a damaged windshield makes you more vulnerable to accidents. Cracks and chips obstruct the clear view of the road, endangering you, your passengers, and other road users. Even a tiny chip or crack can reflect sunlight to create a blinding glare or flashes that impair your vision. Thus, if you notice damage on your car's windshield, immediately take your car to a repair service.

Risk of Ejection

A windshield in good condition prevents the driver and passengers from getting ejected from the car in serious collisions. Ejection can cause life-threatening and deadly injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, and lacerations.

If your windshield is weakened due to a chip or crack, you're at high risk of ejection during a crash. By repairing or replacing the damaged windshield, you prevent severe injuries or even fatalities resulting from ejection.

Fines and Penalties

Depending on where you live, driving with a broken windshield can be against the law. Different states have different windshield laws, with some having specific regulations on the drivability of vehicles with broken windshields. If you go against these laws and regulations, you risk avoidable fines and penalties.

Even though your local laws may allow driving a car with certain windshield damage, doing so presents a major safety hazard. If your windshield has a crack or a chip, ensure prompt repair or replacement of the auto glass to avoid these dangers. Work with a reputable service provider for quality and durable windshield repair. At Affiliated Auto Glass, we offer top-quality windshield repair, replacement, and installation. Contact us today for a quote.