Motor vehicle windshields do much more than stop wind and muck getting into a moving vehicle; they are a protective aspect. Windshields contribute to vehicle body integrity and serve to protect its occupants, while at the same time ensuring comfort in driving. While windshields do so much for a driver and passenger, it is sad that even the simplest of issues e.g. windshield cracks and chips are issues that are neglected or put off for later. Here we explore why sitting on car windshield repairs is a procrastination strategy that is inherently dangerous and one that compromises the safety as well as your financial burden in the long run.
Safety Concerns
The most obvious reasons for procrastination in getting a smashed windshield repaired revolves around safety. Windshields do a significant job in keeping the automobile’s body intact. It helps keep the car’s roof from collapsing when the vehicle rolls over during an accident. This support is compromised by even a small diameter chip on the windshield and greatly increases the likelihood of causing structural damage to the vehicle during an accident.
As a driver, you may presume that a chip or a crack on the windshield isn’t much of a concern. But, with a change in temperature, high speed driving, or even hitting a pothole, the problem can escalate quickly. All this can cause the crack to spread across the windshield. If that happens, your view of the road will be obstructed which poses a critical risk in terms of safety. Additionally, windshields have the potential to shatter unexpectedly, resulting in serious injuries to the driver and passengers.
Furthermore, the windshield can cause problems in regard to the deployment of airbags. It can assist some vehicle’s airbags by directing the impact towards the driver and passengers. A windshield that is cracked will not allow appropriate airflow and therefore, compromise the impact airbags required to function, putting your safety at risk.
2. Increased Repair Costs
Not taking care of your windshield promptly can prove to be a costly affair. Small issues like chips or cracks can be dealt with at an early stage, but if left untreated, they can spiral out of control. Sometimes, technicians can restore the windshield’s integrity by filling the crack with resin, but this is not the case for all instances. A guess that is made sometimes is that a crack can be treated, but if the crack is not treated and continues to grow, it may demand a full windshield replacement.
Based on the model and make of the car, a windshield replacement can cost anywhere from $200 to more than 1,000. It is always better to be proactive regarding dealing with chips or cracks as spending more can prove to be expensive in the long run. In addition to this, the insurance may only pay out a fraction of the costs if the vehicle is deemed “preventable” and if the owner of the car does not modify his habits for a long duration after bearing the damage.
Acting upon repairs in a timely manner not only saves you money but also preserves the resale value of the car. A vehicle with a chipped windshield clearly indicates bad maintenance and significantly loses worth. In the states, and some insurance companies, there are policies that mandate the pose of the vehicle to be in good shape, and if the bumper damage is not rectified, it can lead to fines.
Legal Issues
In some jurisdictions, using a car with a chipped or cracked windshield is only illegal when it obstructs the driver’s view. There are laws in some states that are very strict regarding the size and location of damage done to a windshield. For example, a collision with a chip obstructing a driver’s line of sight or a fracture that runs over the driver’s side is likely going to receive a ticket reprimand or fail vehicle examination. Operating a vehicle with a damaged windscreen will result in penalties, points on one’s driving license, plus higher costs on insurance.
If your windshield is broken, you might have to attend to it within a certain timeframe that is stipulated by law. Not attending to this may lead to being pulled over, and thus, incur penalties. Authorities may not rely on ‘visible’ damage either, they may decide the fine based on what they perceive the vehicle’s visibility and safety standards. You may need to attend to the damage early in order to avoid such situations.
Windshield Climate and Damage Control
Windshield damage control is important if a motorist wants to save their money in the long run. If left ignored, the damage will inevitably increase the cost of repairs or, in some other cases, even replace the entire windshield. The impact one can face from the road, including heat, rain, dust, and airborne particles, are all elements your windshield will face throughout its life.
Vibrations caused by wind pressure while driving, along with the constant refractive index from the road, forward and side bumps will all add this unique mix. It is also worth mentioning that uneven driving, or driving over speed bumps, all increases the likelihood of causing further damage to the vehicle. Once a crack appears on the windshield, looking to take timely action is the best decision to prevent accumulating extra costs. Ignoring cracks can and will increase the cost of repairs in the near future. Ultimately, the initial prompt cost is best to take care of immediately instead of repairing the situations in the future.As you drive with the crack or chip on the windshield of a vehicle, the foremost consequence that you are likely to face is limited access to view the road clearly. The glimmer of the surrounding light during the morning or twilight hours is bound to make it extremely difficult to see anything vividly. If you’re driving toward a light source or even a street lamp towards the end of the night or just before sunset, this will feel highly risky. Blinding light during these times of the day can conceal road signs, lane markings, and even traffic signals that the driver relies on to navigate. As the fracture worsens, more and more distortion can reduce the amount of visibility the driver needs to navigate safely.
Driving with limited road visibility is an accident waiting to happen because you not only put yourself at risk, but also the other persons who are in the vehicle. Adaptive cruise control features offer no advantage when responsibilities are ceded to automation. These dangers are caused primarily by pedestrians, other cars, or bulky objects left on the road. In order to merge safely, an unobstructed view is needed, which is increasingly rare due to pedestrians, other drivers, and road clutter. Road glare and the distortion of the view helper add a persistent strain that negatively impacts driving.
Consequences for Insurance Claims
Most insurance policies provide some form of windshield repair or replacement coverage, usually at little expense, as long as the windshield is attended to quickly. However, procrastinating to resolve a chipped windshield issue could change matters with your insurance. Depending on your plan, if the chip progresses, it may no longer qualify under the provisions to ‘repair’ and instead be considered ‘replace,’ which is significantly more expensive.
Excessive waiting may hurt you in terms of points associated with your premium or deductible, which complicates matters. Insurance companies are not kind when it comes to procrastination as it relates to the maintenance of the vehicle, and that is why waiting can lead to premium loss. Effective rebuilding makes claiming insurance uncomplicated as long as the repairs are performed in time.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, a windshield should never be ignored. The security of yourself and your passengers is paramount, and it is compromised with a damaged windshield. In addition to protection from injury during an accident, windshields are essential for injuries to undergo proper visibility and avoidance for the structural integrity of the vehicle. Furthermore, unaddressed repairs may result in escalated costs, legal complications, and issues with one’s insurance. When damage such as a chip or crack is noticed, action should be taken to repair damage while making sure the vehicle is safe, operational, and economical. Don’t let a minor issue snowball into a larger one. Fix your dashboard at the earliest opportunity.
