All You Need to Know About Windshield Pitting

So, you are driving down the road in full speed when a blazing sun ray hits your car windshield hard out of the blue leaving you blinded for seconds. You do realise that can be dangerous, don't you? Because when we are on the road, the prime rule is always to be attentive as anything can happen in a matter of seconds. So why does this happen and how do you prevent the blinding?

Well, the phenomenon is known as Windshield Pitting, which happens because of natural wear and tear caused by sand, pebbles, rocks, dust and other types of debris hitting on the surface of the windshield. The wear tends to happen faster if one drives more often on the highway at higher speeds or in dry, desert areas.

The pitting begins with one speck of sand getting stuck in the windshield which adds up over time and causes small craters in it. These craters distort the light coming on the windshield, which then distorts the driver's vision. Even one crater in your windshield can blind you if the light hits exactly on it. In the course of time, the more windshield there are, the less safe it becomes. And there's no arguing that the windshield happens to be a major safety component in a vehicle. Apart from the hazard of blinding, a pitted windshield will also shatter much easier in the event of impact than an intact windshield. The craters in a pitted windshield seriously compromise the strength of the glass and put the safety of the people inside the car at risk.

Some people tend to ignore the pitting if it’s not on the driver’s side but that is not a sensible risk to take at all. If, for instance, the sunlight or any street lights or headlights after sunset, hit the windshield pit or crater at a angle, it could redirect the light in a way that blinds you and puts everyone inside the car at risk. So, if you have noticed any obstructions to your vision, specifically when light hits your windshield, you must get it checked. In case of pitting, windshield repair might not solve the problem completely. As windshield pitting poses a grave risk of accident, it is better to get your windshield replaced and make your car safe to drive again. You should spend windshield repair cost without a second thought if professionals believe that a chipped windshield can be repaired.

Contrary to what some say or believe, it is not possible to repair a pitted windshield. Any attempts to repair by polishing the glass, like many suggest, will make it uneven and pose an even more significant problem. One must remember that auto glass repairs are possible only when the chips are minor.