Words cannot effectively convey the experience of driving along a South African national road in a car with three of your best friends, eating chip rolls and blaring music that you will forever associate with this time and place, while laughing and talking excitedly of the amazing adventure you’re about to have.
Through the rolled down windows you can see the wild terrain, perhaps dotted with buck, or sheep or ostrich. There are some other cars and trucks on the road, but it’s an exhilarating relief from the sluggish city traffic you’re accustomed to. You take silly snapshots of yourselves pulling faces and distracting the driver; you put your feet up on the dashboard in front of you; you prepare yourself for the good times ahead.
You do not prepare yourself for the loud and deliberate crack that suddenly and rudely disrupts the good vibe. The driver curses loudly, and all eyes are drawn to a chip in the windshield – the mark left by a small stone that has shot up inexplicably, with forceful and damaging impact.
The passengers sit in silence, the expressions on their faces growing steadily more horrified as the crack slowly, but one hundred percent surely, begins to spread across the auto glass.
It happened to me, and it could happen to you. So here are some things you need to know about how to handle this horrific and potentially holiday-destroying situation should you ever find yourself confronted with it:
- Do not panic! Unlike side windows, windscreens are generally made of laminated safety glass, which means they will not shatter on impact.
- To be safe you should immediately contact a reliable auto glass repair service, and explain the details of the incident so that they can advise you on the best course of action.
- Note that you will still be able to drive the car if the crack is not obstructing the driver’s vision (which means you won’t have to cancel your booking at the backpackers or miss the music festival!).
- You should, however, see to the damage as soon as possible. A cracked windscreen should be replaced as it may cause your roof to collapse in the event of an accident, but chips can be repaired as long as they do not develop into cracks.
- Damage to a windscreen by a stone or other hard object is usually completely accidental and no one’s fault. If you are insured it is likely that you’re covered for the cost of repairs. So don’t spend the rest of your holiday trembling with fear at having to tell your parents.
Now go and enjoy that holiday!