Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter Weather

3 Dangers Of Leaving Your Car's Windshield Cracked

25 May 2017

Deann Jackson

If you have a crack in your car's windshield, you may not think it is a serious issue. However, aside from being an ugly nuisance, a cracked windshield could prove life threatening. Below are three dangers to leaving your car's windshield cracked.

Glass Can Shatter During Extreme Temperature Changes

When glass is exposed to extreme changes in temperature, it has the potential to shatter. Glass expands in heat and contracts in cold. When the two actions are done simultaneously around a crack, the pressure produced on the gap in the glass causes it to break.

So, if it is freezing cold outside and you turn your car's defroster on high heat, the sudden temperature change could prove too much for your windshield. It could suddenly shatter right in front of you, covering you with glass and possibly shredding your skin.

Airbags Are Not As Effective With A Cracked Windshield

You may believe that an airbag stands alone when it is deployed to cushion you during a head-on collision. However, the windshield plays an integral part in the bag's operation by providing a back support. When airbag comes out, the back of it hits the windshield and is pushed forward towards you to save your life.

However, if you have a cracked windshield, the added support for the airbag is compromised. The glass will no longer be able to withstand the pressure of the airbag and could break or shatter when the bag is deployed.

Instead of coming towards you, the bag will go through the glass. And, if the broken glass punctures the bag, it becomes useless. This could leave you to either hit the steering wheel or fly through the windshield if you do not have your seatbelt on.

Windshield No Longer Supports The Roof Of Your Car

Your airbag is not the only life-saving feature on your car supported by the windshield. An intact windshield also supports the roof of your car. If you are involved in an accident, the glass provides stability to the roof so it does not cave in on you.

However, if you have a cracked windshield, the impact of the accident could make it the first thing to break on your car. This leaves the roof unsupported and you vulnerable to serious injury or worse.

After reading the above hazards, you may be wondering what you can do to fix the potentially deadly crack in your windshield. If so, contact an automotive service that provides windshield replacement services, like City Wide Auto Glass, to have them examine and discuss your options for either repairing the crack or replacing the glass.

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