Despite being a reliable safety feature of your car, your windshield is nonetheless susceptible to damage. Picture this: you’re happily driving when suddenly you hear a noise. Rocks and other debris frequently collide with car windshields, often causing them to fracture, chip, or crack.
Without a doubt, you’ll have to get it fixed, but is it really dangerous to drive with a cracked windshield? The short answer is yes, it is dangerous. But if you want longer and more detailed explanations, we’ll happily provide them.
The Importance of Your Windshield
As it provides both visibility and protection, the windshield is one of the essential parts of a vehicle. As the first line of defense, a car’s windshield can stop small objects like dust, gravel, and insects from entering the cabin. Even more importantly, the windshield glass can significantly reduce the severity of damage sustained in a crash.
For instance, the windshield is crucial for the front seat passenger because it provides a solid barrier against which the airbag can deploy. Damage to the windshield reduces the airbag’s effectiveness, increasing the risk and severity of an injury.
Why It’s Risky to Drive With a Cracked Windshield
The dangers of driving with a cracked windshield are numerous, but we’ll focus on the three most important ones.
- First, a cracked windshield limits your visibility. This is especially true if the crack is in your line of sight. Even if the damage isn’t right in front of you, it can still obscure your vision, making it difficult to see other cars and potential obstacles on the road.
- Second, a cracked windshield can weaken the structural integrity of your car. In a collision, the impact could cause the windshield to shatter completely, which would seriously injure you and your passengers.
- Finally, cracks in your windshield make your car more susceptible to theft. If someone sees that your windshield is damaged, they may try to break into your car, looking for valuables.
The Level of Urgency Depends on the Size of the Crack
If the crack is a small chip that you can barely see it and it’s not in your line of sight, then you can probably wait a couple of weeks to get it fixed. That being said, no matter how small it is, when you ignore a crack, it’s bound to get bigger.
If the crack is large or growing, then you’ll need to get it fixed right away. We don’t recommend letting the days pass if the crack is getting in the way of your visibility. A huge spiderwebbing crack is definitely a safety hazard and should be fixed as soon as possible.
Get a Reliable Windshield Replacement
If you can avoid it, don’t drive with a cracked windshield. But we understand that sometimes circumstances are beyond your control. If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend you get the crack repaired ASAP. The longer you wait, the more damage the crack will do to your windshield and the more dangerous it will be to drive.
If you’re in Oceanside, CA, and need a windshield replacement, North Coast Auto Glass is the company to call. Our team of experienced professionals will have your car looking and driving like new in no time. Get in contact with us for an estimate!
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