Dangers of Driving With a Cracked Windshield
A windshield is an integral safety feature of your vehicle that protects you from external and environmental elements. No matter how carefully you drive or how experienced you’re as a driver, windshield damages are a common occurrence.
Contrary to popular belief, windshield damages are not just a cosmetic issue but are a huge safety hazard.
Let us discuss the dangers of driving with a cracked, chipped, and damaged windshield.
Obstruction to Visibility
A chipped or cracked windshield, especially in the driver’s line of sight, can become an obstruction to careful and safe driving. It can be particularly dangerous during rough weather or low-light conditions.
Moreover, poor visibility due to hindered vision while driving can lead to accidents and collisions.
Some cracks can also cause harsh glare from sunlight, leaving you blindsided while driving. It can cause accidents and is a serious driving hazard that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Weakened Structural integrity
One of the important functions of a windshield is to provide support to the car’s roof. A windshield is responsible for providing 40 percent support to the vehicle’s roof, and a damaged windshield can’t do that.
In case of a rollover or a collision, the car’s roof will collapse easily, causing severe injuries to the passengers and the driver. This makes it even more important to go for same-day glass repair or, if needed, go for windshield repair San Diego at the earliest.
Fatal Accidents
Apart from providing you with a clear view of your surroundings and the road ahead, the windshield’s important function is also to protect you during accidents.
However, a damaged, cracked, or chipped windshield cannot protect you in case of a front-end accident and can even prove to be fatal for the driver and the passengers.
Also, if the passengers in the car aren’t wearing seat belts, there is a possibility of them being ejected out. If you have a damaged windshield but don’t have time, you can even opt for mobile auto glass repair.
Airbag’s Malfunction
Effective deployment of airbags is dependent on the integrity of the windshield. If the windshield is easily damaged during the collision, which is a possibility if it’s already cracked or chipped, then proper deployment of airbags is hindered.
It is because airbags depend on the windshield for support from the back to help inflate towards the passenger/driver’s side.
However, if the windshield is damaged or chipped, the deployment of airbags in full force can completely shatter the windshield, causing deployment function and even more severe damage to the passengers and driver.
Shattered Auto Glass
The windshield and auto glass are usually made of laminated glass that’s designed to hold glass pieces together in case of breakage. Regular glass, when shattered, can be sharp and cause severe injuries, but it doesn’t hold true for laminated glasses.
However, it only applies to the windshield and auto glass that wasn’t previously damaged.
If the windshield is already chipped, cracked, or damaged, the glass pieces that fly through during collision or accident can cause severe injuries and may even be fatal.
It is why it’s important to go for same-day auto glass repair in San Diego if your windshield is cracked or chipped.
Legal Consequences
You may also need to face legal implications for driving with a damaged windshield in San Diego, California. Driving with a damaged windshield in San Diego is illegal, and you may have to pay hefty fines or be issued citations for it.
So, driving with a damaged windshield not only exposes you to severe driving hazards but also has unwanted legal consequences.
This is why you should call for mobile auto glass repair today in San Diego and get your damaged windshield repaired immediately.