While driving, you probably give a lot of thought to where you're going and what else is going on around you. This level of awareness helps you to avoid accidents and get to where you need to go safely.
You probably give little thought to your car's windshield. In good conditions, you shouldn't see it. However, Canadians rarely live in "good" conditions. We face every imaginable extreme of weather and it impacts how well we can see.
Here are some tips to help you see better while driving.
1. Your car's windshield is curved slightly, providing some aerodynamics to improve fuel efficiency. However, this means that your windshield wipers tend to take the shape of the bottom of the window, which is shaped different than the middle of the window where you look out of. When you turn on your wipers after not having used them for a while, they can smear or miss a spot entirely. Flex your wipers periodically and be sure to replace your wipers regularly as part of your automotive maintenance habits. This will ensure that you can see while you're driving!
2. Your car's windshield takes the brunt of the cold weather. When you're driving in the winter and your windshield begins to fog up, it's because the outside is much colder and drier than the inside. Turn your interior so it brings in cold air from outside (instead of recirculating the humid, warm air in your car) and roll down your windows slightly. This will lower the temperature in the car and help to eliminate some of the humidity that is causing the fog.
3. Driving during dusk or dawn, the sunlight changes rapidly and your eyes have trouble adjusting quickly. If you cannot avoid traveling during these times, drive with extra caution.
4. Bugs, mud, and glass chips may not seem like a big deal on your windshield, but they can break up your ability to focus on the road ahead. Besides, glass chips can quickly turn into glass cracks when the weather cools down. Clean your windshield regularly and get glass chips repaired as soon as possible.
5. Your car's windshield is part of your car's safety cage. Although it is glass, it helps to add support to the structure of your vehicle. Cracks in the glass diminish the safety of the windshield and put the driver and passengers at greater risk. You wouldn't think of driving with a missing door, so why would you drive with a cracked windshield?
6. In the winter, take the time to scrape all of the windows instead of a small crevice so you can see straight out. Your visibility is one of the most importance lines of defense between you and a serious accident.
Mother Nature throws an awful lot of bad weather at Canadians – from rain to snow to sleet to hail to fog to blinding sunshine. Don't let nature get the upper hand. Do everything you can to stay safe on the roads by keeping your windshield clean. If you have a glass chip or a glass crack, bring it in to Boyd Autobody to be fixed right away to help keep you safe on the road.
