When you least expect it, you can find a complete fracture in the integrity of your windshield. A common concern for many is the overall safety of driving around with a cracked pane of glass. While you may be mostly okay to carry on, the benefits of replacing the cracked windshield outweigh the risks.
Visual Clarity
A crack of any size or kind can drastically impair a driver’s visual clarity. Regardless of the crack’s location, a driver uses the entire pane to monitor the surroundings. An untreated crack can alter the perception or image of the environment, lead to decreased clarity, and reduce the safety of driving the vehicle. Promptly replacing a cracked windshield can help avoid this situation altogether.
Safety Factors
Once the visual clarity decreases, safety is the most significant risk factor—not only for the driver, but also for those who share the road. The vehicle’s overall integrity is in jeopardy when the windshield experiences damage. So, while it may seem okay to drive around town like normal, the glass is subject to weakness and increased damage at any moment.
For example, the vehicle’s framing and roofing support passengers in collisions or rollover scenarios. With a crack in the windshield, the roofing and framing have less support than intended and will crumble faster than if the windshield was in perfect condition.
Loss of Seal
If you live in a climate that experiences altering weather patterns—particularly rain, snow, or sleet, the—total loss of seal on a cracked windshield is a large area of concern. Depending on the deviation to the glass, rain can seep through the crack and enter the vehicle. This effect can damage the interior and create an unpleasant traveling experience.
The Risks of Cold Weather
In addition to altering weather patterns, temperature fluctuations can dramatically increase the damage to a cracked windshield, specifically if these fluctuations occur daily. The glass will contract and expand in varying temperatures, so when the glass has a deviation, the contracting and expansion will happen to each piece, increasing damage and safety risks.
It’s essential to have a damaged windshield inspected thoroughly by a professional and replaced. There are instances where repairs will work, but more times than not, replacing the window is the safest option. The benefits of the replacement far outweigh the risks, especially when the weather conditions are unreliable.
