Protect Your Family: Replace Your Damaged Windshield Right Away
You understand that vehicle repairs are important, but as a busy parent, it sometimes seems there is little time to perform these repairs. However, some repairs simply cannot wait, and a windshield repair is one of them. A large crack in the windshield is more than a cosmetic flaw, it is a significant safety risk. Read on to learn how you could be putting your family at risk by not replacing a damaged windshield.
Risk of Ejection
A crack in the windshield heightens the risk of ejection in the event of a collision with another vehicle. Windshield glass is very thick, and for good reason. In the event anyone in the vehicle was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of a crash, the thickness of the glass will keep it from breaking, which will protect the person in the car and prevent them from being ejected from the vehicle.
When there is a crack in the glass, it is much easier for the glass to break, which, in turn, increases the threat of ejection. As a parent, you always double-check to make sure your children are fastened in their seatbelts, but there is confidence in knowing that the glass can help protect your children in the event of a mishap.
Structural Integrity
Did you know that the windshield helps to stabilize the roof of your vehicle? In the event you are involved in a rollover accident, the thick windshield glass provides support to the roof to prevent it from caving in and injuring you and your family.
Even a thin crack in a windshield puts its integrity in jeopardy. As a result, in the event of a rollover accident, the window is more likely to shatter, which could result in the roof caving in.
Airbag Deployment Issues
Airbags do not have very much direction when they deploy. Often, an airbag sort of bounces off the windshield when it is deployed, which forces the airbag forward, towards the front seat passenger. Again, a windshield with a crack is more prone to cracking.
Consequently, when the airbag forcefully slams into the window it could cause the windshield to break. Not only does the shattered glass pose an immediate danger, but the airbag may not deploy in the right direction, which would leave the front passengers at risk of serious injury.
For these reasons, it is essential that you find the time for windshield replacement or repair services.