Chips or cracks on your windshield aren’t just an annoying visual impairment. They are dangerous, making your windshield more susceptible to shattering at the slightest impact. You may not think that small chip is significant, but it is, so fix it right away. It’s best to avoid chips and cracks if at all possible. Here are six ways you can lower the risk of windshield chips and cracks.
Driving Distance
It may seem obvious, but the truth is following too close to the vehicle in front of you significantly increases the risk of flying debris striking your windshield. This is particularly true when following behind larger vehicles and those carrying large loads of rock or other debris, like trailers and dump trucks. Their larger tires have the ability to kick up debris and send it flying further, so be sure to allow several car lengths minimum between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Dump trucks and other large vehicles are required to have mud flaps installed, but that isn’t always the case. If you find yourself behind a vehicle with missing mud flaps, change lanes or slow way down to let those flying rocks scatter before they can strike your windshield.
Road Conditions
The type of road you may be traveling can often be the cause of loose rocks flying up. Slow down on gravelly roads or in construction zones, and again, allow more space between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you see a vehicle merging in front of you from a dirt or gravel road, change lanes. Rocks can become wedged in the tire treads, and when that vehicle reaches higher speeds, the debris is loosened and will kick up down the road. Avoid following these vehicles.
Weather
Many chips or cracks are caused by hailstones. Know what the weather forecast is and plan accordingly. Hail is dangerous and can shatter windshields on impact, so find a place to park underneath an overpass or in a garage during inclement weather.
Replace Old Windshield Wipers
Old windshield wipers can scratch and score glass, making them fragile and more susceptible to breaking. Windshield wipers should be replaced every year, not just to provide a clear view, but to keep your windshield healthy.
Extreme Temperature Changes
Extreme temperature changes between the inside and outside of the glass are one of the most common causes of fragile windshields. Warming up your vehicle slowly in winter conditions is important. If you are parked in a garage, open the garage door while you warm up your vehicle. This will allow for a more gradual temperature increase and may just save your windshield.
Reduce Speed
The laws of physics cannot be avoided. The faster you go, the greater the impact when you hit something. Going at a high rate of speed gets that flying debris to your windshield at a higher rate of speed. This significantly increases the risk of that rock cracking or shattering your windshield.
As always, be safe, and if a crack or chip occurs, get it fixed immediately.
Image “Cracked windshield” by runran, used under CC BY-SA 2.0
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