Automobile manufacturers have made great strides in recent years toward keeping a vehicle driver and its occupants safe in the event of an accident. In addition to mechanical devices like collision avoidance systems or anti-lock brakes, the body of the car itself has been carefully designed to stand up as well as possible in the event of a collision. In order to provide the right safeguards, the overall structure of the vehicle has to be maintained and cannot be compromised in any way. Could you be risking this situation if you're driving around with an impaired windscreen?
How Issues Begin
Australian roads are generally kept in good condition. However, it is amazing how many obstacles your vehicle will encounter on any given day. All manner of objects can fall from commercial vehicles, while broken road surfaces can leave behind stones or even small rocks. All of these can in certain circumstances be propelled upwards from the road surface to strike the front of your car. When they hit the windscreen, a chip or a crack is almost inevitable, and very few vehicles can avoid this type of encounter.
Why You Should Keep an Eye on the Problem
A small chip or a crack here or there may not be too much of an issue, and your car will be generally safe to drive. However, as time goes by you will encounter potholes and other hazards that cause the frame of your car to twist ever so slightly when you go over them. As this happens, the crack will spread just a little bit more. After a few weeks or months, these imperfections will be quite noticeable, and at this point you should go in to your windscreen repair specialist for advice.
What Worst-Case Scenarios Would Be
The biggest risk that you face when this type of scenario unfolds is in the event of a major car accident. The windscreen, in this situation, is meant to provide a significant part of the structural support for your vehicle and is crucial to provide part of the "backstop" for your airbag deployment. The front airbags need to be fired from their receptacle whenever there is an impact, and if the windscreen has failed in the crash, due to it having been compromised in the past, these airbags may not be released as they should.
In short, it's best not to take any needless risks. If you have some noticeable cracks or chips on your windscreen, don't leave it any longer and see about getting a replacement. For more information, contact a professional in your area like those found at National Windscreens.
Share30 June 2017
Hello, my name is Erin and this is my auto blog. For many years now, I have been buying, selling and modifying automobiles. I am not an auto professional. I work in a large bank in Sydney. However, at the weekends, I like to spend time looking for classic cars which need some love and care. I learnt my skills from my dad when I was growing up. He worked in an auto repair shop and even though he didn't collect cars himself, he knew a good deal when he saw one. I hope this blog is useful to those looking to find out more about automobiles.
