The short answer is yes, a broken windshield can break. But there are several factors involved, and keep in mind that using the word “break up” may not be entirely accurate. The windshield glass is laminated, meaning it consists of two layers of glass with a thin plastic film between the layers. But can your vehicle's windshield break if you don't fix a small crack? In specific circumstances, yes, the windshield could break if it has a crack that compromises its integrity.
However, it won't shatter or spray small fragments of glass all over the interior of the vehicle because the windshields are made of laminated glass. This type of glass consists of three layers, two of which are glass and one of them is a transparent and flexible material called polyvinyl butyral (PVB). When an object hits a windshield, it can create large or small cracks, but both are essentially weak spots in the glass. If the windshield is damaged on the larger side, you'll want to have it repaired or replaced right away. Car windshields are mainly made of laminated glass.
Laminated glass is specifically designed to hold glass pieces together in the event of breakage. That is, the glass will not break into sharp fragments, unlike regular glass. But this only applies to windshields that have not been previously damaged. If your car windshield has cracks, the glass will shatter in the event of a collision or impact, and flying glass will cause serious injury to passengers. A cracked windshield that breaks on impact cannot offer any protection to the occupants of the car.
It should be noted that a windshield can usually only be repaired if it is a small crack or rock chip. Windshield professionals will replace your windshield to the best industry standards and observe all safety measures.
What Happens When You Don't Repair Your Windshield?
While a broken windshield may seem like a simple nuisance, safety experts agree that a broken windshield presents more serious problems than most drivers realize. If not, you'll be fine for a while, but if you notice that your windshield is spreading or growing, you'll need to replace or repair the windshield as soon as possible. Although the windshield can break, the chance of that happening is very low and, if you are proactive and make sure to repair the windows when they are damaged, you won't have to worry about it again.A windshield breakage can be reasonably prevented if you take proactive steps to repair the windshield when you know it's damaged. And when that happens, you'll need a complete windshield replacement, which is considerably more expensive than minor auto glass repairs. And if you don't promptly carry out the windshield repairs your vehicle needs, that small damaged area could grow quickly. Let's see what can happen to a broken windshield if it isn't repaired and how driving around with damaged windows can put your safety at risk. Windshield technicians will ensure that the new windshield is properly installed and that it is not unstable. In the state of South Carolina, for example, there are no specific laws about when a windshield needs to be replaced; however, “the state does have a law that requires insurance companies not to pay the deductible for windshield replacement when the consumer has comprehensive insurance.
