A crack in your windshield can be extremely annoying. Now you have to find the time to take it to the shop, wait on repairs, talk to the insurance company, and adjust your budget for the unexpected expense. To avoid these unpleasant tasks, a lot of people end up putting it off and driving around with the crack in their windshield. But along with the inconvenience, driving with a cracked windshield can be extremely dangerous – even illegal.
So whether your windshield was damaged by hail, rocks, a collision, or the pressure of temperature fluctuations, you need to get the crack fixed as soon as possible.
Can I Drive With a Crack in My Windshield?
If you have a chip in your windshield or a very small crack, it’s likely not a major safety hazard to you or your passengers – yet. We say “yet” because even a small crack can weaken the structural integrity of your windshield. This means that even a small bump in the road or a minor fender bender could cause the crack to worsen – or even cause your windshield to shatter.
And the sooner you have a crack in your windshield repaired, the less likely it is that you’ll have to have the whole windshield replaced. Windshields are made up of two layers of glass laminated together, which is supposed to protect you from flying glass if the windshield does shatter. But once the inner glass layer cracks, it cannot be fully repaired. If the crack is near the edges of the windshield, goes straight through the middle of your windshield, or is very large, you’ll likely have to get a windshield replacement.
To avoid having you drive with a cracked windshield and possibly making the damage worse – and therefore more expensive to repair – Fast Glass Service offers mobile repairs! Just call and schedule an appointment and we can come to you to fix your cracked windshield in your driveway or work parking lot – even on the side of the road!
Is Driving With a Cracked Windshield in Arkansas Illegal?
Technically, the law does not specifically mention cracked windshields. However, it is illegal in Arkansas to drive with an “obstructed view.” So if the crack in your windshield is large or spiderwebbed or in your field of vision, you could be pulled over and receive a citation and/or a ticket. If the crack prevents your wipers from working appropriately, this is also illegal and could get you in trouble in the case of an accident.
Driving with an obstructed view is illegal because it endangers you and other drivers on the road. If you can’t see well, you’re more likely to hit an object in the road or run into another car. Cracks in your windshield can throw off your depth perception, which can lead to fender benders and sideswipes. If a small crack were to suddenly grow larger with a bump on the road, you could become distracted or unable to see and hit a pedestrian, run a red light, or cause an accident.
If you are in a collision and you are found to have an obstructed view through your windshield, you could be found to be at fault for the accident, no matter how it actually occurred. You could also be charged with reckless endangerment for failing to fix the windshield before driving. Don’t add to an already difficult situation – have your windshield crack fixed as soon as possible.
If you have a crack in your windshield, or you have questions about windshield repair or replacement, contact Fast Glass Service. We’re happy to answer your questions and provide you with a free quote!
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