When you're in a rush and you notice you have small damage to the windscreen on your car, it's tempting to just continue driving as normal, especially if the damage is as such that it doesn't obstruct your vision. Because a damaged windscreen can drastically reduce the structural strength of your vehicle, it's actually very dangerous to stay on the road, even if the damage is simply a chip.
The nature of a car's windscreen is multi-functional. It protects the driver from wind and debris as they speed through streets and along motorways, but it also plays a large part in keeping your vehicle safe to drive in. Not only does it protect you from objects in the air in front of your car as you drive, but it provides extra structural strength to your vehicle and, if that strength becomes compromised, so does your safety.
Even just a chip in the windshield can prove extremely dangerous. Glass tends to continue breaking once the damage has started and, while a chip may seem to be a fairly safe issue, the damage is actually putting you in great danger. A simple knock over a pothole could make the chip splinter into a crack, and a crack means your windscreen's strength is greatly reduced. If your windscreen has a crack in it, you should have the glass replaced immediately - even if it's on the other side of the car from the driver's line of vision. The crack won't just obstruct your view - it will make the glass weaker, more likely to shatter and far less capable of protecting you if you got into an accident.
Depending on what the damage is and where it's located, you'll need to either repair or replace the damaged windscreen. If you're lucky, you may not have to get an entire replacement. If the damage is fairly insignificant and easy to deal with, such as a small chip, there is a chance you can simply have the damage sealed and repaired, bringing your windscreen back up to full strength. Many glass repair companies have windscreen repair supplies with them as they respond to calls, so you could get yours fixed immediately. If the damage is larger or the chip is immediately in front of the driver, however, you will probably need a windscreen replacement. Even if this is the case, it's worth knowing that you will be driving in a far safer vehicle.
Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article about windscreen cracks and windscreen replacement has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
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