Many drivers in Kelowna, BC often have to contend with cracked windshields. The cracks could be as a result of things like small accidents or tiny objects hurling themselves on windshields.

There are other reasons such as changing weather patterns that cause windshields to expand and contract. While some folks take immediate action, and visit auto glass specialists, others completely ignore the cracks.

Costly Replacements

When you get a small crack on your windshield, you should take your car to a windshield repair expert in Kelowna, like those at Enterprise Glass (a certified ICBC Glass Express Shop), to fix it as fast as possible. If you do not address the problem early on, it will become a large crack, meaning that you will pay a lot of money fixing the windshield.

A crack could also leave you with a broken windshield, and that means that you may have to replace what you could have easily repaired. Note that replacement services are more expensive as compared to repair services.

Loss of Structural Integrity

Cracked windshields often present structural integrity problems. Such consequences mean that the windshields cannot protect vehicle occupants in case of accidents. One of the roles of a windshield is to act as a backstop to airbags. Windshields support airbags whenever they are deployed during accidents, allowing vehicle occupants to bounce back to their seats instead of flying out of vehicles. Compromised windshields cannot offer such support, and the people in those cars could get injured or suffer worse outcomes.

The Law

While there are different traffic laws for each region, it is illegal to drive with a cracked windshield. The reason is that you could endanger yourself, other passengers, and other road users with the impeded vision brought by a cracked windshield.

Dirty Windshields

If you have a cracked windshield, you may have to drive around with it while it’s dirty because cleaning it may cause the crack to extend and break the glass. You will also endanger yourself and others while operating the vehicle because the dirt and the crack will obstruct your visibility significantly.

Cannot Blast Air Conditioning

Another limitation resulting from a cracked windshield is that you cannot blast the air conditioning system in the car or use the defroster for the windows effectively. The reason is that the extreme temperatures created may cause the already cracked section to extend further.

Sources:

Car Disasters: Cracked Windshield, Cars.com