Photo: Gallo Images.
IF YOU have a crack or chip on your windscreen that you haven’t yet repaired, it might be time to do so as winter looms.
Cracks on a windscreen can be affected by all weather conditions.
But in winter, cold temperatures make the windscreen more concave and consequently place more pressure on the crack.
According to MasterDrive, a windscreen contributes to 30% of a car’s structural support.
- Airbags use the windscreen as a support structure to ensure passenger airbags are properly inflated. If the airbag pressure causes the windscreen to pop out, the airbag becomes useless. Its ability to withstand an impact from a larger piece of debris can be dangerously weakened.) Damaged windscreens can cause you to become fatigued much faster.) If the damage is on the driver’s side, in particular, this can have a major impact on visibility.) At night, drivers can be dazzled even worse than normal by oncoming light.) A chip can create a halo-effect around a light source, while a crack scatters the light adding a “tail” to the light source.) Determining the distance of objects may be affected.) A damaged windscreen makes a car unroadworthy.
Up to 30% of the time windscreen damage can be repaired rather than replaced. Once a chip spreads past a certain point, you’ll need to replace the entire windscreen.
