AAA Says Motorists Who Drive with Cracked or Damaged Windshields May Be Placing Themselves in Harms Way

ORLANDO, Fla.--When consumers commonly think of safety features in a new vehicle or truck, safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes may quickly come to mind. However, a relatively unknown fact is that a vehicle’s windshield also plays a pivotal role in overall automobile safety.

Windshields not only support the roof of your vehicle, says AAA, they also protect motorists from being ejected during head-on collisions, roll-overs and vehicle crashes when combined with the use of a safety belt.

“Driving with a damaged or cracked windshield can hinder a motorist’s visibility and also compromise the structural integrity of the automobile during a roll-over incident,” said John Nielsen, Director of AAA’s Approved Auto Repair program.

Reports by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggest over 40,000 Americans are killed and more than 5 million injured every year in highway crashes. Thirty percent of the passenger vehicle occupant fatalities stem from an occupant being ejected or injured in a roll-over. “This suggests windshield integrity may be a crucial factor in crash survivability,” AAA said.

Therefore, AAA is encouraging all motorists with cracked or damaged windshields to immediately seek the advice of an auto glass technician that is certified by the National Glass Association (NGA). You may find the NGA certified technician nearest you by visiting www.glass.org or www.myautoglass.org and inserting your Zip Code in the certified technician locator service.

“We are very pleased that AAA is raising consumer awareness on the importance of windshield safety,” says Leo Cyr, vice president of the National Glass Association.

Cyr adds, “Many people just don’t realize that their car’s windshield contributes to the vehicle’s structural integrity by supporting the roof during a roll-over.”