Is it Safe to Drive with a Cracked Windshield?

Our windscreens are one of those parts of our cars that we hardly pay attention to. That is until it is damaged. While windshields are designed to be strong and resistant, they can become damaged when hail, a rock, or other debris hits them at high speed. If your windshield is damaged, you may be wondering ‘can you drive with a cracked windshield?’ We at Protech Auto Glass have been repairing cracked windshields for years. From windshield crack repair to windshield replacement, we’ve don’t it all. We hope the information below will help you determine whether it is safe or not to drive with a cracked windshield.

Why You Should Not Drive a Car with a Cracked Windshield

The simple answer to the question ‘is it safe to drive with a cracked windscreen’ is no. It can in fact be quite dangerous to drive with a damaged windscreen. Windshields are designed to ensure the safety of those within the vehicle. A crack or chip in the windscreen means that the integrity of the structure of the windscreen has been compromised. T

his in turn means that the windshield no longer provides the level of protection that it was designed to.

Unsafe Situations Resulting from a Cracked Windshield

A crack in your windshield results in:

• Weakening of the windshield. The crack in the windshield is a point of weakness in the structure of the windshield. The crack can continue to grow and eventually cause the entire windshield to break. The windshield will also not provide adequate protection to the passengers in case of an accident as its structure is compromised.
• Poor visibility. Cracks or chips in windshields can impair the vision of the driver. The cracks may be infiltrated by moisture, dirt, and other debris which can seep into the layers of glass and cause discoloration. This will further interfere with the driver’s visibility.

Could a Cracked Windshield Blow Out?

Small chips and cracks on windscreens are easy to repair with the help of professional auto glass repair technicians such as those from our team. However, many people fail to have their windshields repaired on time. They instead continue to drive with a cracked car window.

The problem with cracks is that they spread ov0er time when they are not attended to. These cracks form weak points in the windscreen. Moisture may penetrate these cracks. This combined with the flexing of the windshield as the vehicle goes into dips and over bumps on the road as well as changes in temperature that cause the glass to contract and expand can put a lot of stress on the glass. Windshields with cracks can shatter under these conditions. It is therefore important to get your windshield fixed as soon as possible.

How Broken Windshields Affect your Driving

If you’re searching online for ‘crack in windscreen safe to drive,’ you should know that it simply isn’t safe to drive with a crack in your windshield. A cracked windshield will interfere with your ability to see clearly. Cracks attract dirt and moisture which can penetrate the layers of glass in the windshield. This causes discoloration which also impairs vision while driving.

If your windshield is chipped or cracked, it’s important to have it repaired right away. Windshield repair can be performed in a matter of minutes depending on how extensive the damage is. Our technicians will come to your location and repair the chip or crack so you can continue to drive safely. Get in touch with us for speedy, efficient, and convenient windshield repair. Don’t take the risk of driving with a damaged windshield.