Every driver in the UK is at risk of picking up serious damage on Tuesday as hot weather continues to bake the country. Tuesday is likely to be the hottest day of June’s heatwave with temperatures expected to hit 34 C in London. Hot weather can cause serious problems for road users with the risk of overheating engines, battery issues and tyre stress.
However, many are unaware that car windscreens are also a major concern with the heat likely to “reduce its strength”, leading to damage. Experts at AutoGlass stress that cracks could appear on the glass, destabilising the windscreen of every model regardless of whether its a petrol, diesel or electric vehicle.
Ed Colley, Head of Marketing at AutoGlass said: “It is important that anyone planning to get behind the wheel takes a couple of minutes to check their windscreen before setting off, as hot weather can increase the chances of small damage developing into something much worse.
“Changes in temperature can stress windscreen glass, potentially reducing its strength and causing small chips to expand into cracks. If you do currently have damage to your windscreen, try and park in the shade if possible to keep it cool and minimise risk.”
As well as the safety risk, having a cracked windscreen can still be a legal issue with motorists likely to be penalised.
According to the RAC, road users could still be issued a fixed penalty of three points on their driving licence and a fine.
A study by AutoGlass has previously revealed that just 22% of UK drivers check their windscreen for chips before heading out on a road trip.
This is lower than the amount of motorists who check other major components such as tyre pressure (65%), fuel (75%) and fluid levels (47%).
Despite the lack of awareness over windscreen damage, the top concerns for drivers are still road conditions (33%) and vehicle damage (38%).
AutoGlass stressed that addressing any damage before heading off in hot weather was crucial to staying safe behind the wheel.
Ed added: “When it comes to windscreen damage, spotting and sorting the issue early can make a huge amount of difference.
“Even the smallest chip can quickly grow, impacting visibility of the road, and, if it turns into a crack, will require an entirely new windscreen. Getting a chip repaired before it turns into a crack is quicker, cheaper, and more sustainable than getting a replacement windscreen.”
