Windscreens don’t just crack by themselves. Cracks are usually caused by stones kicked up by cars’ tyres. Fortunately, cars’ windscreens are positioned at an acute angle, thereby deflecting most stones. But, what do you do when the windscreen is cracked?
HOW DOES A CRACK IN THE WINDSCREEN START?
It all starts with a stone hitting the windscreen, causing a little chip to appear. It’s amazing how so many things in life are solved if addressed at an early stage. The sooner a chip is fixed the better. A chip can easily turn into a crack, which, before you know it, can run across a large section of the windscreen. That’s when the windscreen has to be replaced.
WHAT DOES THE NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACT HAVE TO SAY?
The National Road Traffic Act states that no one may operate a motor vehicle unless you can see clearly through a windscreen that is at least 70% transparent. The Act allows a crack in the windscreen, as long as it does not interfere with the driver’s vision. However, a cracked windscreen may be legal, but it does not make it safe.
HOW CAN A COMPROMISED WINDSCREEN AFFECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF A CAR?
With a head-on collision, an intact windscreen transfers the impact from the front of the car down into the chassis. The impact’s effect on the interior is thus reduced, affording protection to the occupants. A cracked windscreen can shatter upon impact, which allows forces to flow horizontally through the car, thus endangering passengers.
AN INTACT WINDSCREEN PROTECTS A CAR SHOULD IT ROLL
When a car rolls, an intact windscreen stops the roof from collapsing, because it acts as a vertical support. However, a cracked or even chipped windscreen can cause the roof to buckle inwards, which, in turn, can cause serious injury.
AN UNDAMAGED WINDSCREEN PREVENTS PASSENGERS FROM BEING EJECTED DURING A COLLISION
Even though passengers may not have buckled up, an unbroken windscreen can greatly assist in keeping passengers inside the car. Even a windscreen with a small chip can shatter on impact, and fail to stop passengers from being ejected from the vehicle.
HOW DOES AN UNBROKEN WINDSCREEN SUPPORT AIRBAGS WHEN THEY EXPLODE?
An intact windscreen gives support when an airbag explodes outward first against the windscreen and then towards the passenger. A cracked windscreen may collapse when an airbag explodes against it, thus preventing the airbag from providing proper support to the passenger.
FOR HOW LONG CAN I DRIVE WITH A CRACKED WINDSCREEN?
This all depends on the crack’s location and its size. If the crack is on the passenger side, away from the driver’s line of vision, and is quite small, there should be enough time to get it repaired. However, if the crack is in a place where it can grow, it needs to be fixed immediately. The windscreen expands and contracts with temperature, and invariably the crack can start to run.
A CRACKED WINDSCREEN CAN HAVE BLIND SPOTS
No matter where a crack, small or large, may be located on a windscreen, it can, at some stage, block the driver’s view. This, in turn, could cause an accident.
CRACKS IN A WINDSCREEN CAN BLIND YOU
Cracks running across the windscreen can seriously blind you when driving, depending on the angle of the sun. This is because light, reflected from the ‘wall’ of the crack, acts like a miniature mirror.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO CRACK THE WINDSCREEN IN WINTER
Parking your car outside overnight in winter may result in a thick layer of frost, coating your windscreen the next morning. To clear the frost, avoid using warm water, as that may cause the windscreen to crack. Cold water is also no good, as it just ices up immediately, making the problem worse. Preferably, use an old credit card to scrape off the ice.
As can be seen from the above, an intact windscreen forms a most important, integral part of vehicle safety. Because it provides such protection to a car’s occupants in many ways, it’s imperative that a cracked or chipped windscreen be repaired professionally as soon as possible. But, is your cracked windscreen covered by insurance? What about damage caused to your car because of an accident? PMD offers you car insurance at affordable rates.
Windscreen Diagnostics… Should I Clean, Repair or Replace my Windscreen/ Windshield? https://t.co/5F26Z64orF @PGGlass1 #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/dOGyrdVmUo
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) September 18, 2017
Disclaimer:
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Prime Meridian Direct (Pty) Ltd, FSP41040 (car insurance and life cover products). The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.