Drive with cracked windshield?

Is driving with a cracked windshield dangerous?

Yes. Driving with a chipped or cracked windshield is dangerous. It’s not just a windscreen to keep the wind out of your face. It’s actually a structural member of the vehicle. Once it develops a crack or chip, it loses most of its structural integrity.

Windshield provides structural support

Most people don’t realize that the windshield actually helps support the roof. That because everyone thinks the support is performed solely by the A pillars. The A pillars do provide substantial vertical support. But the windshield glass provides lateral support, up to 45% of the structural support in fact.

Windshield provides roll-over protection

The windshield provides even more structural support in the event of a roll-over. As long as the windshield remains intact, it can provide up to 60% of the structural support for the roof.

The windshield is an integral part of the airbag system

In many passenger airbag designs where the airbag is located along the top of the dash, an intact windshield is required for the proper operation of the airbag. In those designs, the airbag fires up into the windshield. The windshield deflects the airbag into the cabin, protecting the passenger. If the windshield is cracked, the force of the airbag will blow out the windshield, causing the airbag to fail in protecting the passenger

Check the windshield laws in your state here

©, 2019 Rick Muscoplat