Windshield - The Protection of Life

Windscreen cracks can appear abruptly and without warning, with potentially disastrous consequences like car accident if you drive every day!

If you're not sure if that chip in your windscreen is worth worrying about, or if you'll be able to make it through this week's commute after a windscreen mishap, then get a further reading in this blog to learn about the restrictions and risks of driving with a cracked windscreen.

Why windshield?

The windshield is an important car element that protects the driver and passengers.

Windshields are carefully constructed to keep passengers and drivers safe even if they chip, crack, or shatter due to extreme impact. Also, it helps to keep the driver's vision from lights on the road.

The main disadvantage of a cracked windshield is that it no longer provides safe driving. A fracture in the windshield can distort or obstruct your vision, making it difficult to see the road clearly.

Two layers of glass have been bonded together. If one of the layers of glass breaks, the laminate and the inside layer of glass hold the windshield together, preventing glass fragments from hurting passengers or falling onto the road.

A minor crack indicates that the glass's structural integrity has been compromised. Windshields that have been compromised by damage provide less protection. So you should get your crack repaired as soon as possible.

Importance of your car windscreen.

The windscreen glass is just as crucial as the seat belts and airbags in all current vehicles. Damage to any of these components puts the entire system and your safety at jeopardy. 

Among other things, a windscreen damage can caused fast moving stones, boulders, or gravel striking the screen are the most typical source of small chips or cracks.

This can happen when debris is flung up and across the road by the tires of other vehicles, or when objects are hurled up and across the road by a car going in the opposite direction.

Why you shouldn't drive with a smashed windscreen

According to the Highway Code, drivers must have a clear vision of the road ahead, and all glass must be in good working order.

A cracked windscreen can obstruct a driver's visibility, resulting in a fixed penalty of three points on their license and a fine if they are stopped.

It is illegal to drive with a damage windscreen as it is possible to be charged with a traffic violation if you drive with a cracked windscreen. In addition, it could be considered operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe manner.

You should not drive with a cracked or smashed windscreen is cracked. If you're discovered driving with a crack in your driver's vision, you'll face a three-point penalty on your license as well as a fine.

It may also result in a failed MOT.

Any damage to the windscreen that is 40mm in size or more will cause your automobile to fail its MOT.

If you look at the diagram below, any damage more than 10mm in size in zone A – the 290mm region directly in front of the steering wheel – will fail your MOT.

If you have an accident while driving with a cracked windscreen, you could be punished with a more serious driving crime. The collision could be your fault because you were driving with a damaged windscreen.