It happens
when you least expect it. Your windshield is cracked and you need to get it
repaired or replaced as quickly as possible. According to the Auto Glass Safety
Council, a not- for-profit created to promote safe auto glass replacement, this
is not the time to consider you bottom line. In incorrectly installed
windshield can require costly repairs later on or worse, can cause major injury
and death.
What most
consumers don't realize is that the front windshield plays an integral part in
preserving your safety during and accident. An intact and properly installed
windshield provides between 45-60% of the structural integrity of the cabin
during an accident. Pits or bubbling in the sealant or the wrong adhesive not
only lead to leaks, they can make horrible accidents much, much worse.
We have all
seen cars that have been in accidents where the windshield has popped out of
the car. According to the experts, that is not supposed to happen. Windshields
are designed to act as supports for the roof in case of a rollover accident.
They are constructed of two panes of glass held together by vinyl. If the
materials are substandard those panes of glass can shatter and splinter on
impact. Improper installation, or the use of substandard parts, can turn the front
windshield of your vehicle into a death trap.
When airbags
are deployed they exert an enormous amount of force, and an improperly
installed or substandard windshield can shatter or simply pop off in the event
of an impact. This is often what happens when people are thrown from speeding
cars. According to Steve Mazor of the Auto Club of Southern California, in such
cases "the odds of survival much less".
The AGSC is
accredited by the American National Standards Institute and has formulated the
nation's first set of Auto Glass Safety Standards. They have licensed hundreds
of thousands of auto glass technicians and shops all across the country in an
effort to make sure that your vehicle remains safe to drive. Some industry
insiders say that as many as 70% of all windshield repairs and replacements are
done incorrectly, compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle in a
collision.
"How
would you like for over half the force of a collision to be absorbed by YOU
because your windshield flew out in an accident?" Says David Rohlfing,
Member of the Board of Directors of the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards
Council.
This happens
more often than most people expect. With the number of "independent"
auto glass repair companies on the rise, finding an AGSC certified installer is
more important than ever. It's easy to find a certified technician near you by
using the search tool found on safewindsheilds.org.
Making sure
that your technician wears gloves and uses original parts is only part of the
equation. When choosing a shop, ask questions of the technician that only
somebody knowledgeable would know. For example, how long before you can drive
the vehicle. Most repairs require between one and twelve hours to set. Any
technician who tells you that you can drive away as soon as he is finished
working is swindling you and putting your life at risk. Also, it is preferable
for you to use a company that has a brick and mortar location, even if the work
is done by a mobile technician.
Many
consumers simply take their vehicle to the dealership for any necessary work.
While this may seem like the easiest way to ensure that the work, it is not the
most cost efficient. Most dealerships will simply subcontract the repair to an
auto glass shop and then charge you 30% more for the repair. Smart consumers
are better off going to the auto glass shop themselves.