The Dangers of Windshield Replacement- What Your Insurance Co & Glass Replacement Shop Won’t Tell You & Why You Should Never Replace Your Original Windshield Unless It Is Necessary.

The following is a summary of renowned windshield safety expert Richard Campfields study produced for the Center for Auto Safety. Campfields study emphasizes the critical role of windshield safety and the windshields' significance as a vital piece of technology that must be safeguarded at all costs. Campfield's report also sheds light on how proper Windshield Long Crack Repair & Rock Chip Repair contributes to maintaining the original safety standards of windshields for vehicle occupants. Campfields study showcases the risks associated with windshield replacements and how replacements put drivers in extreme peril.

WHY YOUR WINDSHIELD RANKS AS THE 2ND MOST CRUCIAL SAFETY FEATURE AFTER YOUR BRAKES & SEATBELT

 STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY/ROOF SUPPORT: Your windshield provides 50%-60% of the roof's support in the event of a rollover or      other catastrophic accident. The rollover is the deadliest wreck known. The windshield also contributes substantially to the vehicle's overall structural integrity and is a key component of the energy management system that redirects crash energy away from the passenger area.

 AIRBAG TIMING & RETENTION: The windshield is a critical determinant of proper airbag deployment timing. Additionally, during a collision, the windshield acts as a support/backboard for the passenger-side airbag. The airbag hits the windshield with substantial force, bounces off and protects the passenger.

 OCCUPANT RETENTION: Simply put, the windshield is designed to prevent occupants from being ejected during rollovers or catastrophic accidents and to prevent external objects from entering the cabin.

How Aftermarket Windshield Installations Put You at Extreme Risk

1. FACT: The factory seal, strength, and integrity of an original factory windshield cannot be replicated. Ever. Safety tests and ratings  that auto manufacturers conduct on new cars are based on those vehicles with original factory glass. Replacing the original factory windshield voids all factory safety ratings associated with the windshield & poses significant risks to drivers.

2. FACT: Aftermarket grade auto glass, which is offered & sold at all glass replacement shops, lacks the same quality, strength, & integrity as original factory glass. Automakers will not use “aftermarket grade” glass in new cars, only original factory-grade glass which is manufactured to higher strength standards. Never buy the aftermarket glass. Always buy "Factory" replacement” glass with your car brand logo on it.

3. FACT: Sources like ABC’s 20/20, the National Glass Association, and the Independent Glass Association report that 70% to 80% of all aftermarket windshield installations are faulty at some level. The leading contributor to this is that there are no federal regulations for the auto glass replacement industry. Anyone can decide they want to get in the business & start replacing windshields. The fault could be caused by a number of issues, ranging from but not limited to using incorrect/expired adhesives, curing times, failure to properly prime the windshield frame, or contamination of glass prior to or during installation. Something as simple as an employee not wearing gloves during an installation will contaminate the edge of the glass, preventing it from properly bonding to the adhesive and frame. Any one of these issues will cause a major safety hazard comparable to a ticking time bomb. Improper training, negligence, ignorance, oversight, or simple apathy and disregard for safety are relatively common. These types of scenarios happen every day. These common types of incidents, coupled with the inferiority of aftermarket auto glass, lead to approximately 7,500 to 8,000 fatalities per year and approximately  7000 to 7,500 severe injuries per year.

4. FACT: A single unrepaired or improperly repaired rock chip in a windshield weakens the structural integrity of the windshield by 20% to 30%.

IMPORTANT!!     WHY DOES ALL OF THIS MATTER?     IMPORTANT!!

 It is no exaggeration to say that anytime you replace an original factory windshield, you are literally playing russian roulette. If your windshield comes out, fails or comes apart in a rollover accident, the roof will collapse like a soda can. If the windshield comes out, fails or comes apart during any type of catastrophic wreck, the potential for injury or death drastically increases. The passenger air bag can punch an aftermarket windshield out of the frame during deployment. An improperly installed aftermarket windshield can cause your airbags to go off too soon or too late. All four of these scenarios would be catastrophic, especially the rollover, which is the deadliest wreck known.

 An average of 7,500 to 8,000 people per year are killed from injuries directly caused by aftermarket windshield installations. The majority of all windshield lawsuits to date are from deaths and injuries caused by a replacement that eliminated or compromised one or more of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Astro Windshield Repair & Protection: How We Help Preserve the Safety of Your Windshield.

           Logically speaking, the obvious solution to this problem is to prevent windshield replacement whenever possible. This is what we do.

           Replacement shops do one thing: Replace windshields. We do one thing: Prevent you from needing a replacement so that you can drive safer.

1. How we do it. WE REPAIR WHAT OTHERS CAN’T & PREVENT WHAT OTHERS WON’T. We have perfected the art & science of not only rock chip repair but also long crack repair up to 35". All of our crack repairs are guaranteed to be 130% to 150% stronger than new factory glass. All of our rock chip repairs are guaranteed to be 108% to 130% the strength of new factory glass. That being true, a quality rock chip or crack repair is always much safer & always the preferred course of action vs. a replacement.

2. We are the ONLY rock chip prevention & glass protection specialist in South MS. We offer a permanent, 3 layer, aviation-grade protective glass treatment that is not available to the general public. It prevents rock chips & cracks. So strong that in the unlikely event you receive rock chip damage we will repair it free of charge for as long as you own your car.  If rock chip damage is unrepairable or deemed unsafe to repair we will reimburse you up to $500.00 towards your deductible or replacement. The treatment includes a complete glass refinishing

SOMETIMES, REPLACING A WINDSHIELD IS UNAVOIDABLE

Be extremely cautious with who you allow to replace your glass. Our 5 recommendations when replacing your windshield. 1.) ALWAYS buy factory glass with your car's logo on it. [This doesn’t mean it will duplicate the strength of original factory glass but it ups the odds of it being higher quality than standard-fare replacement glass.] 2.) Ask the company to provide documentation that all of their technicians are (NGA) National Glass Association certified. 3.) Ask if they endorse & adhere to the (AGRSS) Auto Glass Repair Safety Standard. 4.) Ask if and have them prove to you that they always use manufacturer-recommended Urethane Adhesives & drive-off times. Note: these adhesives have an expiration date. Some shops buy expired adhesives or use off-brand adhesives to save money. Using either one of these will cause improper bonding and can cause your windshield frame to rust out underneath the glass. 5.) Never use Safelite. By law, you can choose who replaces & repairs your glass. For replacements, I  recommend Clear Choice Auto Glass Biloxi (Rick), Dunaway Glass  28th St Gulfport (Ray), and Dixie Glass in Pascagoula.

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