If your windshield is broken, cracked or chipped in Plano, Garland, Allen, Lewisville, or Dallas you may feel the need to get it fixed because it makes your car feel cheap and worn. People repair their broken or cracked windshields all the time for cosmetic reasons. Some may put it off because they don’t mind the look and the cost seems too high. But what you may not realize is that your windshield is a vital part of your car’s safety system.
Part of SRS
SRS stands for Safety Restraint System, which is made up of a car’s airbags, seat belts, and windshield. This system is a crucial safety mechanism that keeps passengers protected in the event of an accident. According to a 2006 report by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes resulted in nearly 39,000 deaths and 2.5 million injuries.
More than fifty percent of automobile related injuries or fatalities occurred as a result of front end collision, where the impact that results in damage and injury occurred in the front of the vehicle.
Windshields in Carrollton are designed to protect drivers and passengers from being ejected from their car in the event of a collision. However, when windshields are damaged or are improperly installed, this function is severely hampered.
Supports Passenger Side Airbag
Without a functioning windshield, the passenger side airbag is useless. This is because the passenger side airbag is designed to first bounce off the windshield before bouncing back and protecting the passenger in a car collision. When a windshield is improperly replaced with weak adhesive, the windshield may fall out upon impact leaving the airbag to push out against the hood of the car. This leaves the passenger with nothing to cushion the impact.
Absorbs Impact
In addition to keeping the passenger airbag functioning and securing the passenger inside the car, windshields are an important shock or impact absorber inside the vehicle. Windshields consist of two layers of glass bonded by an interior polyvinyl layer. Although the outside layers of glass may crack or break, the inside layer keeps the windshield flexible and capable of cushioning any impact that may result.
Provides Roof Support
Finally, windshields in Dallas are important because they hold up nearly 60% of the roof for most cars. This is a major cause of concern for vehicles that have a tendency to roll over. In a rollover accident, roof support is what keeps a passenger from being crushed by the weight of their vehicle. If the windshield falls or pops out of the vehicle, the probability of the roof collapsing is much higher.
