Tips to save your windscreen from flying rocks

We’ve discussed the importance of protecting your windscreen in previous blogs, because a car windscreen is a key safety feature in modern vehicles.

We also know that windscreen fixes are among the most common car insurance claims in New Zealand. It can be difficult to avoid getting a chip on your windscreens, and a chip can quickly turn into a crack if it is not repaired.

Fast Autoglass can assure you that if you do need to repair or replace your windscreen, we offer a complete auto glass repair or replacement service in Christchurch and Canterbury. However, we understand that having a windscreen repair or replacement can be inconvenient and disrupt your busy life. To help with this, we have created a list of tips that could help you to save your windscreen from flying rocks. Read on to find out more….

Whilst it may not be possible to completely avoid getting windscreen chips from flying rocks, there are certainly some steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of it happening. You can also reduce the amount of damage that occurs, should a rogue object hit your windscreen. The tips below offer some guidance to help you save your windscreen from flying rocks:

Don’t tailgate
It makes sense from a safety perspective not to tailgate, you should always ensure you have a safe stopping distance between your car and the car in front. Keeping a safe distance can also reduce the likelihood of a flying rock hitting your windscreen. If you are far enough behind, the rock won’t hit your car at all as it will fall to the ground. The further you are from the vehicle in front, any rock that is thrown up from the car will have time to slow down before it hits your car, meaning less potential damage.

Drive to the speed – the faster you go, the bigger the impact
As with tailgating, it is also sensible from a safety perspective to stick to speed limits when driving. As we all know, less speed equals less harm. This applies to rocks flying up at your windscreen too. If you drive at 5kpmh below the speed limit you will also have more time to respond to any objects flying towards your car.

Avoid construction and roadworks – if possible
No one likes driving through roadworks or construction sites, the road is often bumpy and sometimes there is debris on the road too. This can cause problems for your windscreen as typically you drive closer to the car in front through areas of construction/roadworks. Make sure you follow the rules and drive at any temporary speed limits, slower speeds can be useful at preventing debris from being flicked up. Try to keep as big a distance as practically possible between you and the car in front. However, it would be safer and sometimes quicker if you can take an alternative route to get to your destination!

Avoid shingle/gravel roads – if possible
Gravel roads can be a windscreen’s worst nightmare. These roads are made up completely of small rocks, which can easily be thrown up and hit your car. Even if you are driving slowly and carefully, other road users could speed past and cause rocks to fly up and hit your car. Try to avoid gravel roads and use sealed roads wherever possible.

Take the quieter (scenic) roads
If you have time, take the quieter road to get to where you want to go. Less traffic and lower speeds will mean less chance of a high speed rock hitting your windscreen. You and your passengers might also enjoy seeing some different sights which is an added bonus.

Steer clear of large trucks
Larger trucks have more wheels, which means more chances of a rock being thrown up. Wherever possible, try to drive in front of trucks. If you have no option but to drive behind a truck during your journey, remember the advice above and drive at a slower speed whilst keeping a safe distance.

A final tip to protect your windscreen…..
We strongly advise you to fix a chip as soon as you notice it. An untreated chip can soon turn into a crack and may lead to a costly, and more time consuming, windscreen replacement. At Fast Autoglass we can fix a single chip in 30 minutes, any additional chips take just 10 minutes each. This means you can get back on the road, and back on with your day in hardly any time at all!

If you follow the tips around protecting your windscreen, it is likely your windscreen will continue to protect you for many years. When the time comes to repair a chip or crack remember that Fast Autoglass offer guaranteed workmanship on all auto glass repairs and replacements in Christchurch and Canterbury. We offer a high quality, fast and efficient service and have expertise in a range of auto glass solutions. We have a workshop that is centrally located in Christchurch and also offer a convenient mobile service. Contact us for all your auto glass repair needs.