Windshield part of vehicle's safety restraint system

Most of us would conclude that our car's windshield is a very useful piece of equipment. After all, it keeps cold and heat, wind and rain, and untold numbers of bugs and other airborne road debris out of our faces, right?

The problem is that we as consumers have different and more limited expectations from the windshield than the automotive engineer. In other words, we worry about water leaks or ugly "dings" and cracks affecting our car's value, while the engineer understands how such damage can affect the vehicle's structural integrity and passenger safety.

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The fact is that in the modern automobile, the windshield is part of the vehicle's safety restraint system (SRS) that also includes air bags and seat belts.

Every vehicle owner should be aware of the four most important safety functions performed by the windshield:

1. Provide clear visibility of the road. The modern windshield can become pitted and scratched from minute dirt and sand particles. Pebbles and stones can fracture the glass causing dings that, if left unattended, can affect vision.

2. Support passenger-side airbag during deployment. If a windshield is replaced improperly, it could become detached from the vehicle in an accident. If this happens, the passenger-side airbag will not deploy properly.

3. Cushion the blow if a vehicle occupant is thrown forward in a crash. Windshields are made of two layers of glass sandwiched around a layer of polyvinyl material. The glass may break, but the polyvinyl layer is flexible and cushions the impact and is forgiving to a person's head and neck. When the windshield cushions the occupant's impact, it also keeps the occupants within the relative safety of the passenger compartment, preventing ejection.

4. Increase structural integrity of the passenger compartment. Years ago, most vehicles had steel A-pillars to support the roof. Today, it's the windshield that provides much of the support that prevents the roof's collapse during vehicle roll-overs.

Got a broken windshield? You've got two choices: either repair it or replace it.

Seen from the perspective of personal safety, we motorists have a vested interest in making sure any damaged windshield is repaired or replaced properly and safely. So, it's extremely important to consult a competent vehicle glass service provider for advice.

Specially trained technicians can repair chips, nicks and cracks up to 6 inches long (about the size of a dollar bill). Just visit www.safelite.com to learn more about proper vehicle glass replacement and repair services.