Five Downsides to Ignoring That Crack in Your Car’s Windshield

If a stray rock has left your car window chipped or cracked, you may be tempted to ignore the problem and hope it doesn't grow. But while this is the easy solution, it may not be the smart one. A cracked window is relatively simple to fix or replace, while a cracked one is a constant liability to you and your car. These five downsides show why waiting on a chipped window isn't worth the potential risks.

The first reason anyone should patch up a car window early is that the problem will only grow. Unless you intend to one day sell your car with a large crack in its windshield, you will eventually need to have it taken care of. Over time, chips grow into cracks and cracks grow into spider webs. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to need a replacement instead of a repair.

This makes it especially important to act quickly, while the flaw can still be repaired. Minor chips can often be halted before a more expensive replacement is necessary. From this perspective, it only makes financial sense to fix windshield blemishes before they progress into full-blown replacement territory.

Besides the potential difference in cost, a cracked windshield can also pose a threat to the safety of you and your passengers. A whole pane of auto glass is designed to withstand immense pressures without fracturing. Once the glass has a flaw, however, any tension applied to it will travel along those chips and cracks, splintering them further.

This weakness can be fatal in the case of an accident. Without the strength of its windshield to hold it together, your car is more likely to crumple in the collision, particularly if it rolls. This puts you and anyone else in the car at much greater risk of traumatic injury. Since you never know when an accident will occur, the only way to prepare is to make sure your car is ready for the worst.

You might not think much of the crack obstructing your view as you drive, but it can be a major concern for law enforcement. Part of keeping the roads safe means ensuring that everyone on the road is driving a responsible vehicle. Window cracks that block your vision may therefore make you a target for local traffic police.

If you do decide to wait on your auto glass repair, check your local laws to be sure you aren't signing up for an extra ticket. In Indiana, drivers are required to keep their vehicle in good working order, including its many safety features. You can be pulled over and cited in Indiana for a cracked windshield. Thankfully, if you feel that your car is not safe or legal to drive, mobile glass repair options are available.

Besides holding your car together, your windshield is also an important part of your car's airbag system. Designed to deploy upon collision, airbags can save your life when it matters most. But airbags can also be dangerous themselves, and they need to function within certain specifications to work as intended.

Many, though not all, airbags use the windshield as a brace when they deploy. Without that support, the airbag may fail to cushion passengers effectively. Combined with the increased likelihood of structural failure, it's easy to see how a compromised windshield can lead to many unintended consequences.

Given the simplicity of repairing or replacing a cracked windshield from the comfort of your driveway, it only makes sense to resolve this issue before it leads to irreplaceable losses. Schedule a quick appointment with Perfection Auto Glass today to restore your car's windshield to its previous strength and get your car road-ready once more.