The holidays are just about everyone’s favorite time of year. One of the best parts of the season is the excitement of taking time off work to go on road trips, family visits, and long drives to see loved ones. However, it’s important that between shopping for gifts and planning get-togethers, you don’t overlook your vehicle and its safety.
Having a clear windshield is essential for safely navigating the winding, mountain roads surrounding Flagstaff. It’s important to avoid letting ice, snow, or debris from reducing visibility. We highly recommend fixing small chips before they worsen and replacing glass that’s lost its structural integrity.
Continue reading to see why having a clear windshield is critical for safe driving, common holiday windshield hazards, and tips for keeping your windshield clear.
Why a Clear Windshield is Critical for Safe Driving
There are a lot of good reasons to make sure you have a clear windshield before hitting the roads this holiday season. Frost, ice, and road grime can easily block your field of vision, making it difficult to see other motorists on the road, pedestrians, and road signs.
Reduced visibility is one of the biggest known causes of winter accidents.
You want to make sure you reduce glare as best you can too. Sun glare can be particularly bothersome shortly after sunrise and before sunset. Dirt on the glass, smudges, fog, and streaks can distract and blind a driver.
Make sure advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and similar safety features work as intended by keeping sensors clean and clear of debris.
Common Holiday Windshield Hazards
Here are a few holiday windshield hazards you should be aware of so that you can better spot and avoid them.
#1 Winter Weather & Icy Windshields
Thick ice or frost can make visibility difficult and can leave your car’s glass more vulnerable to cracks, if you’re not careful. Be sure to avoid thermal shocking your windshield by never pouring warm water on it to melt ice. This can create a crack or make an existing chip turn into a bigger issue.
You should also avoid running the defroster too quickly as this can also cause damage. Instead, try to slowly heat your window when removing snow and ice build up.
#2 Road Salt & Debris
Salting roads is great for making them safer to navigate during winter conditions, but it’s not so great on your car’s paint or glass. It’s easy for glass to receive pitting or chipping, which can spread more easily in winter, when passing cars kick up salt and gravel.
#3 Sudden Temperature Changes
The two most common ways automotive glass experiences sudden temperature changes is when pouring hot water and blasting the heater too quickly after the ice has settled in. This thermal shock can instantly crack the glass requiring a trip to the auto glass repair shop.
#4 Increased Traffic & Risk of Damage
Holiday traffic usually leads to more vehicles on the road, which means more opportunity for damage to be caused to yours. Crowded roads and high speeds are a recipe for flying debris and damaged windshields.
5 Holiday Travel Safety Tips: Keeping Your Windshield Clear & Damage-Free
Here are a few winter windshield maintenance items to check before heading out on any holiday road trips.
#1 Check for Chips & Cracks
Before heading out, check for minor damage or other issues with your windshield and have any chips or cracks fixed as soon as possible.
#2 Use Proper Ice & Snow Removal Techniques
As mentioned, don’t use hot water. Instead, use a plastic ice scraper along with a de-icer spray to get ice and snow removed.
#3 Replace Old Wiper Blades & Use Winter Washer Fluid
Old wiper blades can be brittle or damaged and more or less useless on both rain and ice. If you live in Flagstaff, you want to use winter-rated washer fluid too, as this won’t freeze and you’ll be able to use it if your windshield gets mud or other debris on it.
#4 Keep the Inside of Your Windshield Fog-Free
You can add an anti-fog treatment to your auto glass to prevent condensation from forming. This invisible layer offers resistance to moisture buildup, making for a more clear glass.
#5 Drive with Extra Caution to Avoid Damage
Try to drive with caution, putting a good amount of distance between yourself and other drivers on the road whenever possible. This can help you to spot potential dangerous situations sooner and prevents the likeness of vehicles kicking up rocks and other debris onto your car.
When to Repair or Replace Your Windshield Before Holiday Travel
It’s a good idea to fix small chips and cracks as soon as you possibly can. You don’t want any issues to worsen and if you have to replace an entire window, it will cost considerably more.
Replace your window if it needs to be done. Don’t put it off until after your trip as a severely cracked windshield can pose a dangerous driving condition.
Most importantly, choose an experienced and reliable auto glass repair shop to conduct any and all work on your car’s windshield. Many cars have ADAS and other safety enhancements that need to be calibrated after a window replacement, which auto glass companies can take care of.
Get Your Windshield Professionally Repaired in Flagstaff
If you live in Flagstaff, head on over to Inspector’s Auto Insurance today for a free glass inspection. If you have a minor chip that can be repaired, we’ll let you know. And if the entire windshield needs to be replaced, you can trust that our decades of experience will get the job done right and quickly.
Simply reach out to schedule your inspection today and let Inspector’s help you and your family travel more confidently this holiday season with a clear windshield for safe driving.