Tips to Protect Car Windshields While Driving on Rural Roads

Roads trips are fun, spontaneous, and a great way to enjoy the natural, scenic beauty of a country. Be it, friends, or family, they serve as a suitable bonding medium by allowing you to spend quality time with your loved ones. And your car is a vital companion in making such spontaneous family road trips possible.

For your road trip, you may have decided to carry all the car essentials – be it battery jumpers and spare tires or indoor accessories such as air fresheners and sanitary wipes to avoid getting into any unwanted trouble. However, despite such tangible essentials, there are certain preventative measures that drivers often neglect – measures to prevent getting a chipped or cracked windshield on rural roads. Road trips, especially those on rural roads, require regular off-roading, travelling through bumpy roads, and unpredicted weather in rural areas - all of which hold the potential to damage your windshield and put a damper on your fun trip.

Moreover, with a sparse population and no helping hand in the vicinity, it’s easy to get stranded in the middle of nowhere. And so, to avoid such mishaps, we’ve listed down all the factors on rural roads that can damage your car windshield and what measures you can take to protect it. Read on to find out.

Poor Glass Quality and Error in Installation

Although the majority of incidents related to windshield damage happen due to external surroundings, there are certain predetermined factors such as poor glass quality and improper installation that can increase the chances of chipping and cracking of your car’s windshield.

When it comes to glass quality, always make sure windshield glass meets the OEM specifications as they are durable and can withstand harsh weather. Moreover, they have better structural integrity as compared to poor-quality glass, thus ensuring that the windshield does not break as easily.

The second preventive measure that you can take is to make sure that the windshield is fitted into the frame properly. A poorly-fitted windshield is the outcome of a windshield whose size does not match the dimensions of the frame. Ill-fitted windshields do not offer any structural stability. They cannot handle extreme vibrations or bumps - both of which are bound to take place on rural roads.

Factors such as driving the car at accelerating speeds can cause the windshield to become loose, pop out of the frame and result in an edge crack. That’s why it is always preferable to check your car windshield’s fitting and glass quality before heading out on a road trip on rural roads.

At AIS Windshield Experts, we always install genuine, OEM-specified parts and also offer a 1-year written warranty on workmanship as well as materials used to help clients enjoy a seamless driving experience.

Gravel Roads

Now that you have taken the preventive measures, it’s time to brace yourself for unwarranted instances that can result in a cracked windshield. One of the most popular reasons for chipping and cracking of windscreens after edge cracks are stone breaks. Stone breaks take place when a sharp stone or solid debris hits the surface of the car windshield, causing it to crack.

Rural roads are seldom smooth and cemented. Gravel roads are chock full of sharp stones and flying debris, but they are also a huge part of rural areas. Hence, driving on dirt roads is inevitable. However, to avoid such unfortunate incidents, the driver must always drive at a moderate speed and keep a safe distance from the car ahead to prevent any stones from flying onto the car windshield and damaging it.

Driving Behind Large Vehicles

Heavy vehicles such as trucks, tractors, and construction vehicles are commonly used in rural areas. Most large vehicles, such as construction trucks, are usually loaded with debris, unwanted construction materials, and heavy equipment. When driving behind such vehicles, there is a higher chance of debris and stones falling onto your windshield and cracking it.

However, taking additional measures such as driving at a safe distance from such large vehicles can avoid such mishaps. Moreover, it is advisable to try to avoid the line of fire and switch lanes as soon as possible to protect your car windshield.

Pressure Fluctuations

Driving on rural roads means encountering mountainous terrains and high altitudes. When travelling to higher elevations, you may have noticed how pressure affects your body. Similarly, your car windshield too gets subjected to much stress.

Travelling at high speeds, in particular, can put pressure on your windshield, thereby resulting in stress cracks. Moreover, shifting from high to low-pressure areas can pressurise your windshield further and cause it to crack. Hence, it is advisable to always drive at a reasonable pace in places of high altitude for a safe driving experience.

Looking for reliable auto glass repair and replacement services? Contact AIS Windshield Experts - India’s leading windshield repair and replacement company. Our presence in over 50+ cities in 90+ conveniently-located service centres and several mobile vans makes it possible for us to offer quick doorstep services. Moreover, we also provide a one-year written warranty on our workmanship and materials used. Get in touch with your one-stop-shop for all your windshield needs. Get in touch with Windshield Experts.