Today, owning a car is more of a necessity than a luxury. Owning and driving a car is important to people because it provides them with independence and freedom to move freely to their desired destinations. However, having a car also comes with several different issues.
One of the many issues that people face when driving their cars is “windshield cracks.” A cracked windshield can sometimes be annoying to deal with. This is especially true if the cracks are in the location that can interfere with the driver’s field of vision.
Depending on the nature of the cracks on your windshield, you can be pulled over for driving with a cracked windscreen. Usually, it’s not illegal to drive with a car that has small cracks on the windshield. However, if the cracks are many to the extent that they affect your vision while driving, this could be tagged illegal.
Is it illegal to drive your car with a cracked windscreen? Is it possible to get pulled over for a cracked windshield? At what point is a cracked windscreen illegal? As you read through the rest of the article, you’ll find the answers to the burning questions above.
Is It Illegal To Drive With A Cracked Windscreen?
As earlier mentioned, one of the most annoying issues attached to owning a car is when you have a cracked windscreen. In case you don’t know, most windshields (both front and rear) are often made of laminated safety glass. This could be a combination of two tempered glass.
Laminated safety glass is usually made by combining two glasses, such as annealed or tempered glasses, and then bonding them together with interlayers, such as PVB or polyvinyl butyrate. Furthermore, laminated glass is often used for the rear and front windshields of cars because they are secured and don’t shatter easily.
Yes, laminated windshield glass can break depending on a couple of factors. However, even if they do, they won’t shatter because of the vinyl layers used to hold them together.
That said, one of the common causes of windscreen cracks is “road debris.” What do I mean? Sometimes, gravel on the road can be thrown up by moving the tires of other vehicles. Unfortunately, these stones can make contact with your windshield and crack it. This is one of the most common causes of the cracked windscreen.
A temperature change is another factor that could cause windscreen cracks. The most common cause of cracked windshields is “automobile accidents.” Accidents can be prevented by not entirely. It can happen at any time and place, leading to windshield cracks.
What happens if your car windscreen gets broken? Is it okay or illegal to drive with a cracked windshield?
To answer the questions, I’ll say that it could be both legal and illegal to drive with a cracked windscreen. Here’s why:
In some cases, it’s very legal to drive with a cracked windscreen. The only way this is possible is when the cracks are insignificant and do not, in any form, interfere with your field of vision while driving.
According to the federal regulations in the US, it’s pretty much legal to drive with a cracked windshield, if the crack is smaller than ¾-inch in diameter. That’s not all; you can also drive with a cracked windscreen if the cracks are not located within 3 inches of another crack and are not directly obstructing your view while driving.
Anything outside the regulations laid down above, it’ll mean you’re driving illegally with a cracked windscreen.
According to the Georgia state government’s rules and regulations regarding cracked windshields; drivers are not eligible to drive their cars if the cracks are in a spider web pattern larger than three by three inches. You can check here for more information regarding the regulations and penalties.
“No motor vehicle shall be operated with a windshield or rear window having a starburst or spider webbing effect greater than three inches by three inches.”
The bottom line is that it could be illegal or legal to drive with a cracked windshield, depending on your location and the nature of the cracks. In some states, it’s illegal to drive with cracked windshields that have a spider web shape greater than three inches by three inches. With that, it means if the cracks are lower than three inches by three inches, you can still drive around without being pulled over unnecessarily.
Can You Get Pulled Over For A Cracked Windshield?
Is it possible to get pulled over for driving a car with a cracked windscreen? Of course, you could get pulled over for driving with a cracked windscreen.
Here’s the thing; in most cases, you’ll be pulled over for driving with a cracked windshield. However, it’ll be upon the law enforcement officer to check whether or not you’re driving the car illegally or not. As long as you adhere strictly to the rules and regulations regarding driving with a cracked windshield, you won’t be penalized.
At What Point Is A Cracked Windshield Illegal?
As earlier mentioned, there are federal rules and regulations for cracked windshields. The regulations say that drivers are not eligible to drive their cars with a cracked windscreen:
- If the crack is bigger than ¾-inch in diameter.
- Even if you have a crack that’s smaller than ¾-inch in diameter, it’ll still be illegal for you to drive the car if it’s within three inches of another crack.
- That’s not all; even if you end up meeting the requirements above, you may still be pulled over for driving illegally if the cracks can interfere directly with your field of vision.
