Friday, 13 December 2019

Can i drive with a cracked windscreen

Is it illegal to drive with a cracked windscreen? Can I drive with a windshield crack? Can you drive with a cracked car? All in all, you shouldn’t drive at all with a crack in your windscreen – even if you think the crack is small, it can make your whole car unroadworthy.


As a general rule, if you have any cracks – or even chips – in your windscreen that are bigger than 10mm and are in the A-Zone (which is a 290mm area directly in front of the driver), your car will fail its MOT.

Driving with a cracked windscreen can be considered a motoring offence. It could constitute use of a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition. The Highway Code states that drivers should have a full view of the road ahead and glass should be maintained in a good condition.


However, driving with a cracked windscreen may mean you are committing a motoring offence an even if this isn’t the case, you could be placing yourself and your passengers in danger of being involved in a serious accident. A cold snap could make the crack spread further.


If you have fully comprehensive insurance you should be able to get a new windscreen fitted for the cost of the Windscreen excess (£- £Check with you insurer) If not you will have to check with the smaller local windscreen firms and. In the eyes of the law: yes.

Under Section of the Road Traffic Act, driving a motor vehicle with a crack or chip in the windscreen constitutes as driving a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition. So it’s important you know what do if you have a cracked windscreen.


According to the RAC, authorities consider driving with a cracked windscreen a motoring offence. Specifically, it could constitute the use of a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition. You will want to have the windshield replaced entirely. However, if the crack is small and insignificant, then driving with a cracked windshield for a long period is not a big issue.


The position of the crack –Another key consideration is the location of the crack. If it is small and positioned on the passenger side, you shouldn’t have an issue driving until you get it repaired or replaced.


Because a crack or chip can grow to a significant size at any time, either due to air pressure changes or to temperature changes, it is imperative to have a repair or replacement carried out at the earliest convenience. Windscreen Laws in the UK It can be considered as a motoring offence to drive with a damaged windscreen.


It’s generally not dangerous to drive with a small crack in the windshiel but damaged glass should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible for two important reasons: Windshields weakened by damage provide less protection. Cracked windshields decrease visibility. The structural strength referred to only comes into play if you flip the car over (or something heavy falls on the roof) and the windscreen prevents the roof caving in and squashing you.


Cracks on your windscreen are no joke. Depending on where you live, driving around with a crack or a chip in your windshield is different shades of illegal.


Another factor to take into consideration is the size and placement of the chip or crack.

Windscreen cracks are annoying and may seem insignificant but in reality they can be a major safety hazard. The windscreen does more than keep win rain, and bugs out of your face and car, they are an important part of the structural integrity of your vehicle.


So while a minor crack or a chip - say smaller than a $coin - may not be an issue and can be repaire anything larger could mean a car is unroadworthy and therefore illegal to drive. And any chips or cracks, big or small, in the Critical Vision Area of a car’s windscreen - 90mm from the top of the screen to 65mm from the bottom - may become an issue.


If you’re driving with a cracked windscreen, you could find yourself with up to three penalty points and a fine of £50 if you’re stopped by the police. These rules apply even if you have a current MOT certificate.


While driving today something hit my windscreen and caused it to crack,my insurance company put me in touch with Autoglass who cannot replace my windscreen until sometime on Thursday. When I moaned this was a long time as I need the car to take my disabled husband to a hospital appointment tomorrow I was told it was safe and legal to drive a car with a cracked windscreen passenger side.


This doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive with a cracked windshield. Even a small crack on glass means your windshield’s structural integrity has been compromise which means it is now a safety hazard to you and your passengers. If you continue to drive with a cracked windscreen and fail to repair it, it can quickly turn into a crack with a sudden change in temperature or bump in the road. Even if the crack or chip is small, it’s important to have it checked out.


Windscreen stickers, or other obstructions, shall not encroach more than 40mm. Windscreen repairs shall be assessed the same as unrepaired damage and shall not restrict the driver’s vision.

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