Generally speaking, most small cracks and chips in your windshield can be easily repaired by a qualified auto glass technician. In regards to the size of the damaged area, a good rule of thumb is that if the crack or chip is smaller than the size of a dollar bill, it can most likely be repaired without requiring the windshield to be replaced.

By law, if the damaged area is within the direct line of sight of the driver, the windshield must be replaced. Also, a repair should be considered only if the damage affects the top layer of glass. If the damage has affected the PVB layer, then the windshield should be replaced, as this would cause the structural integrity of your windshield to be compromised.

One example of how your vehicle’s windshield protects you in the event of an accident can be illustrated in the way the windshield is made. Every auto windshield is constructed of two sheets of glass, separated by a thin layer of polyvinyl butyrate in between. This transparent sheet of plastic is fused between the layers of glass in an adhesion process which utilizes pressure and heat to bind the layers together.

In the event of a collision, the glass may break; however, the thin layer of adhesive plastic in the middle will keep it together. This serves a dual purpose. First, the adhesive will prevent the majority of the glass from shattering and causing cuts and scratches to the occupants. Secondly, it allows the windshield to provide somewhat of a cushion to the passengers, should they strike the windshield. The polyvinyl butyrate is flexible, reducing the amount of force exerted to the occupants upon impact with the windshield. This is why windshields are constructed from glass the way that they are, rather than being constructed from plastic. Plastic does not provide the same amount of flexibility and cushion during an accident.

Seatbelts, airbags and impact absorbing materials found in and on your vehicle, including the windshield, are all part of a safety network, commonly referred to as the vehicle’s Safety Restraint System, or SRS. All the individual components of the Safety Restraint System are dependent on each other, so if there is a compromise in just one aspect of the SRS, it will likely lead to a complete failure of the rest of the system.

It is well known that seatbelts and airbags are dependent upon one another in order to provide full support in the event of an accident. Additionally, most of your vehicle’s safety features are also dependent upon the windshield. For example, the windshield provides support for your vehicle’s airbags (the passenger airbag in particular). Without this support, the airbag would be incapable of being fully deployed and any protection the airbag was meant to provide would be compromised. Alternatively, the windshield plays a major role in the structural integrity of your vehicles passenger compartment, especially in the event of a rollover. If the windshield is unstable, it may very well fail in the event of a rollover accident, causing the passenger compartment to fall in on itself, putting the vehicle’s occupants at extreme risk of injury or death.

13-14 million windshields are replaced annually in the United States, most commonly caused by flying debris, vandalism, and collisions. It is important to realize that windshield replacement is a complicated, challenging process that should only be performed by properly trained professionals.

Replaced windshields must be perfectly positioned and installed as to not compromise the integrity of the vehicle’s cab. The windshield provides essential support to the passenger compartment in the event of an accident, especially in rollovers. Think of the windshield as the keystone of an arch.

When having your windshield repaired or replaced, always use the services of a reputable and competent auto glass service technician. Replacing a windshield is actually a very exact science and is not as simple of a service as you may have first considered. Proper installation of your vehicle’s windshield is crucial to the performance of your vehicle’s safety systems and is the best way to ensure your vehicle is as safe as it can be.

A qualified auto glass service specialist will be able to clearly make known whether your windshield needs to be replaced or repaired. In general, a windshield should only be repaired if the damage is not too extensive or if distortion will not result from the repair.

Most importantly, if the windshield’s inner layer of polyvinyl butyrate has been affected in any way, the windshield should be completely replaced. This adhesive layer is the most important aspect of any vehicle’s windshield, and is what keeps the windshield from shattering into many pieces when impacted.

It is important that you should select a qualified auto glass technician to should you need to have your windshield repaired or replaced. Having a structurally compromised windshield can increase your chances of serious injury or death in the event of an accident. Furthermore, if the windshield is not properly installed, these chances increase dramatically.

In 2002, the program 20/20 ran a story which stated that up to 70 % of the 12 million windshields replaced each year are done so improperly. Proper installation of your vehicle’s windshield is crucial to the performance of the vehicle’s safety systems. The best way to ensure a proper installation is to only use a reputable auto glass service technician; one which uses quality materials, provides sound service, and has a good reputation with plenty of experience.

In the event of a rollover, the windshield prevents the roof from collapsing inward into the passenger compartment. In some vehicles, the windshield can provide up to 50% of the auto’s rollover strength.

According to the NHTSA, rollover crashes account for a mere 3% of all collisions, while that same small percentage is responsible for 31% of total vehicular fatalities. The administration also explains how, in 2000, almost 10,000 vehicles were involved in fatal rollover crashes and that 84% of those accidents involved only one vehicle. In 2001, 54% of all single vehicle crash deaths occurred as a result of rollovers.

These figures make it clear that having a structurally sound windshield is one of the best measures you can take to protect yourself from serious injury or death in the event of a rollover accident. When your windshield has become damaged, seek the expertise of an experienced auto glass repair technician as soon as possible.

The auto glass found on your vehicle plays a very important role for both you and your vehicle. The windshield in particular provides important structural support for all vehicles. In the event of an accident, the windshield is designed to take the kinetic energy from the impact and disperse it evenly around the passenger compartment of the vehicle, protecting the occupants. Windshields are a key component to the structural integrity of vehicles. In many vehicles, the windshield can provide up to 50% of the passenger compartment’s structural support when involved in a rollover accident.

Besides the windshield, the remaining windows of your vehicle, including the rear window, are constructed of tempered glass. This tempered glass is manufactured using rapid heating and cooling methods, which strengthens the glass. When the structural stability of tempered glass is compromised, it does not shatter; rather, it breaks into small, pebble-like pieces which are dull, and do not cut like shattered glass. This helps prevent additional injuries caused by sharp shards of glass in the event of an accident.