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Auto
Glass Safety:
"The importance of replacing a cracked
Windshield."
Why is a cracked (or improperly
installed) windshield dangerous?
Your windshield prevents you
from being ejected during an accident.
The safest place to be during a car
accident is in the car. Your
windshield is an important
barrier that keeps you in the car.
If you don't replace your windshield
a cracked windshield (or a poorly
installed windshield) can fail
during a collision or roll over,
allowing you or your passenger to be
ejected. A passenger ejected from a
car or truck is much more likely to
experience a serious injury or
death. Cracked windshields expose
the laminate that joins the layers
of glass in the windshield,
resulting in delamination. It is
this delamination that results in a
dangerous reduction in the
structural integrity of a vehicle.
Your windshield is a "backstop" for your
passenger side air bags.
In nearly all new vehicles equipped with
airbags, the passenger side airbag
deploys upward and bounces off the
windshield glass to protect the
passenger in a crash. When the airbag
deploys, it does so at 150 - 200 miles
per hour. Needless to say, a cracked
windshield lacks the structural
integrity necessary to absorb the force
of a deployed airbag; with the result
that passengers may be ejected and
injured or killed if the airbag
deployment is deformed by the
windshield’s failure. In addition, an
improper windshield replacement that
fails will subject a vehicle’s occupants
to the same risk of airbag failure as a
cracked windshield.
Your windshield supports the roof
An automobile's windshield is designed
to prevent the roof from crushing you in
a roll over accident. It's important to
promptly replace your windshield because
a cracked windshield will not meet any
of the ANSI windshield performance and
safety standards. Industry experts have
estimated that windshields provide up to
70% of the structural integrity in a
rollover accident. A cracked windshield
may fail to support the roof if the car
flips over, causing severe injury or
death to occupants.
Information you should
know
When
dealing with cracked windshields, it's
important not to procrastinate. Several
factors can cause cracked windshields or
chipped windshield defects to worsen:
-
Natural vibrations that occur while
your automobile is moving can cause
windshields cracks to deteriorate.
-
Extreme temperatures (hot and/or
cold) put a tremendous stress on
chipped or cracked windshields and
can result in further damage.
For example:
-
Allowing your vehicle to sit in direct
sunlight on a hot summer day.
-
Washing
your car on a hot day.
-
Defrosting your windshield on a cold
day.
Windshields containing damage within the
driver's line of sight should be
replaced immediately. Such windshields
are a hazard since they can impair the
driver’s vision. Finally, a couple of
other points to note about chipped or
cracked windshields:
-
Windshield replacements fall under
your insurance company's
comprehensive deductible.
-
New
Image Auto Glass can replace most
windshields in one hour or less.
Please call (480) 785-2209 for a free
quote.
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