Keeping your windscreen safe | AutoGuru
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Keeping your windscreen safe

Darren Pay

Updated 11 Oct 2019

Darren Pay

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Most people service their cars regularly to ensure efficient and effective running.

Unfortunately, no matter how much motoring experience you possess, how expertly you drive or how often you maintain your vehicle, there are some things you can’t control, such as damage to your windscreen.

A damaged windscreen is not only annoying & costly, but it can also be extremely dangerous, especially if the damage is in your line of sight.

It goes without saying that vehicle owners don’t intentionally drive to destroy their windscreens, but at the same time, glass is not indestructible.

The following guidelines will give you some peace of mind knowing you’re doing everything you can to protect your windscreen.

Fluctuating temperatures

Windscreens are made entirely of glass, if your car is in direct sunlight, the edges heat up faster than the centre of the windscreen, causing it to either contract or expand.

This can lead to a cracked windscreen.

To avoid this happening, we recommend that you try to keep your car in the shade at all times!

Also, if you've got a small chip or two on your windscreen, just before summer is the ideal time to get these repaired. The hot summer months adds more stress to your windscreen through increased heat intensity, which will cause that small chip to turn into a rather large crack. If it gets to this point, you could be up for entire costly windscreen replacement, instead of just a small repair. 

Make sure you book in to get that repair done before summer hits! Get a free quote through AutoGuru

Gravel

Driving on loose gravel or any other type of debris can cause your tyres to spin gravel into the air.

If you’re travelling too close to the vehicle in front, your windshield could possibly cop a stone or gravel to the screen, possibly causing some serious damage to your car.

Keep your distance

The best precaution is to keep distance between you and the car ahead.

If you notice there’s loose gravel on the road, whether it be on country roads or on the highway, slow down to create some distance.

Creating space will help avoid loose gravel hitting your car or give you more time to react if you spot some heading your way.

Check who’s travelling ahead

Another important factor to watch out for is the type of vehicle travelling in front of you, especially construction vehicles or semi-trailers with an exposed roof.

These types of vehicles can be extremely dangerous to drive behind, and can also cause major damage to your car.

Construction vehicles are generally on worksites all day, so debris, gravel, rocks and other dangerous items can get stuck in the nooks and crannies of the vehicle’s body and tyres.

If you’re travelling behind a construction vehicle or semi-trailer, your best option is to slow down and create distance, or if you have the option, change lanes as soon as it’s safe.

Be aware of your surroundings and travel at a distance to avoid any possible damage to the exterior of your car and windscreen!

Poor quality

If your windscreen is simply made up of poor quality glass, the slightest amount of pressure can result in a break or crack.

Be sure to take your car to a professional and replace your windscreen immediately to avoid further damage.

Poor repair work

The worst-case scenario when it comes to vehicle safety is if your windscreen has not been installed properly.

The windscreen may have been loosely fitted, putting the safety of you, your family and surrounding drivers at risk.

To check if your windscreen is sound, in a decongested area, quickly accelerate and keep your eye on the windscreen.

If your windscreen is vibrating, your windscreen may have been poorly fitted, so look for a windscreen expert in your area for replacement or refitting.

Pressure

Sudden changes in pressure can also cause windscreens to crack.

This may be due to sudden acceleration, explosions or even pressure on the windscreen from foreign objects.

These conditions can cause stress cracks and can put your safety at risk. Make sure you drive at a consistent pace, keep your distance from the car in front of you and always be aware of your surroundings.

Hail

Hailstorms are unpredictable and can cause some serious damage not only to your windscreen but the entire exterior of your car.

Depending on the size of the hailstones, your windscreen could suffer from a crack or chip.

If you’re unfortunate enough to be stuck driving or in an open area during a hailstorm, slow down, or even pull over to lessen the impact.

Thumbnail image: Warner Bros.

Darren Pay

Written By

Darren Pay

Darren Pay is a windscreen and glass repair expert that owns A1 Windscreens in Melbourne.

A1 Windscreens offer complete care and repair services for cars. Everything from windscreen chip and crack repairs, to glass scratch removal and window tinting.