Most drivers see a cracked or chipped windshield as minor auto glass damage that may not need a repair. But despite how small or big the crack or chip is, you should never ignore it. A chipped windshield is not just a cosmetic imperfection. Chipped or cracked windshields can be a safety hazard to you and your loved ones.
You should never assume a chipped windshield isn’t problem. If your vehicle has a chipped windshield, the damage can cause serious safety concerns. Chipped windshields are dangerous and can put your life at stake as a driver.
Why You Should Not Drive Around with a Chipped Windshield
Chipped windshields are a severe problem capable of rendering your car unsafe to operate. It may sound dramatic but the implications of one chip in your windshield could be far worse than just cosmetic. In this article, we discuss the impact that a chipped windshield has on the safety of driving your vehicle.
Affects Structural Integrity
A windshield has a professional design to offer drivers and passengers protection should an impact occur. There are two glass layers on a windshield. If the surface layer suffers damage, the other coating is designed to protect the glass from shattering and becoming hazardous to the people inside the vehicle. A large chip can damage the windshield’s structural integrity. That can make your car’s windshield unable to offer protection from a significant impact. This is one of the main reasons its so important to get a chipped windshield repair if your auto glass suffers a crack or chip.
A chipped windshield cannot execute its life-saving role. With a chipped or cracked windshield, your vehicle’s roof can collapse when a rollover takes place, resulting in severe injuries to the driver and passengers on board.
Poor Deployment of the Airbags
When a vehicle is involved in a severe collision, the windshield ensures good deployment of the airbags. The airbags rely on the windshield to deliver a backstop to inflate the driver and passengers. But, in the event of a chipped windshield, the force responsible for airbag deployment may shatter it. That can cause the airbag deployment process to malfunction and put the driver and passengers vulnerable to injuries should a collision happen.
Fatal Accidents
The design of your windshield is in such a way that it offers protection to the vehicle’s occupants during a collision. A cracked windshield cannot tolerate a significant impact in case of a head-on collision. With your car having a chipped windshield, you put your life and other occupants at stake.
Risk of Ejection
A chipped windshield can make passengers who fail to fasten the seatbelt face the risk of ejection. The windshield on your vehicle provides an additional layer of protection. It keeps the driver and passengers from getting flung out of the car they are traveling in should they face a severe impact. A chipped windshield does not have the same strength as an unchipped windshield. It no longer has the ability to protect the occupants during a severe collision.
Distracted Driving
A chipped windshield can distract the driver from operating their vehicle safely. It can draw the driver’s attention and make them not focus on the road. A chip or crack can also obscure the drivers vision, especially in inclement weather, which can also pose a safety risk for the driver and the passengers.
Chipped windshields can reflect more light. That can result in the driver experiencing blinding glare and therefore having issues operating the vehicle or navigating while driving.
The Bottom Line
Small or large chips in your windshield can cause more complications. Driving with a chipped windshield is dangerous. Look for an expert to repair or replace your chipped or cracked windshield to protect your safety and well-being while driving on the roads.
Auto Glass Repair
If you need any form of auto glass repair in the Kyle or Buda, Reliable Automotive can help! Visit our website for more information on Auto Glass & Windshield Replacement in Buda & Kyle, Tx.
