Here's Why You Should Never Ignore A Windshield Crack

Developing a crack in your windshield can be a real nuisance, but it can also become something far worse. Seeing a small crack form in your windshield may leave you tempted to ignore it until the crack becomes large enough to obscure your vision. However, this is a very dangerous decision to make, and one that could end up hurting you or your passengers or other drivers on the road. If you're not sure why a windshield crack is such a problem, then read on.

Potential for Shattering

Windshields are typically very strong, even in older cars. They have to be in order to withstand impacts with small debris on the road, as well as tolerate the pressure created by moving at high speeds on freeways and highways. However, this durability is weakened once a crack develops.

Once a crack is there, it becomes much more likely for a windshield to shatter upon any kind of minor impact, or simply from long-term exposure and temperature changes, like when you turn on the defroster on a cold day. Glass isn't exactly known for being flexible, so the crack creates a structural instability. In some cases, this can lead to a windshield suddenly shattering, which is frightening and can potentially hurt you or others in your car with flying glass.

Falling Inwards

Another problem with having a windshield crack is that it increases the likelihood of your windshield spontaneously falling inwards into your car. As previously noted, glass isn't normally flexible. So when a whole piece of glass is used to fit into the space your car has set aside for a window or windshield, it stays firm and doesn't flex much. However, once a crack develops, pressure applied to the windshield can cause it to flex inward, allowing it to fall out of the windshield frame and into your car. This can be very distracting and frightening, and may temporarily obscure your vision, increasing the likelihood of getting into an accident.

Worsening Accident

While everyone should wear seatbelts to help prevent severe injury in car accidents, that's not always the case. Windshields are there in part to help prevent those in the car from being severely injured during an accident. Unfortunately, if your windshield isn't performing its job properly, it can lead to shards of glass flying during even minor accidents. It can also cause the windshield to pop out if someone hits it from the inside during a collision, which can lead to a person being ejected from the car with nothing to slow or stop them.

Windshields are a basic safety feature of every car and any damage to them should immediately be inspected and repaired or replaced if necessary. Thankfully, getting your car's windshield repaired is extremely easy, as many repair facilities will come straight to your home or work's driveway to get the work done while you're busy with other things. There's no reasonable excuse for ignoring your windshield's damage, so get help before it becomes a bigger problem for you.

For more information, contact a windshield replacement service, such as Signature Shield.

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