A chip or crack on a windshield is too often viewed lightly. Did you know that every time you hit the road with a vehicle with a damaged windshield, you put your life and that of your passengers in danger?
In the event of an accident, the windshield acts for your safety. It serves to :
- Contain the airbag after deployment
- Prevent ejection of passengers
- Increase impact resistance
- Prevent collapse of the roof
For the safety of motorists, the highway safety code obliges motorists to have a windshield that is in good condition.
According to section 265 of the Highway Safety Code, the windshield and the windows of a motor vehicle must conform to the standards established by regulation to ensure the visibility of the driver. You are at risk of being fined for driving with a a damaged windshield!
For your safety and that of other motorists, a damaged windshield must be replaced quickly. Beyond visibility being possibly reduced, a crack in the windshield can alter the resistance of the structure in case of impact.
A damaged windshield may also interfere with the deployment of the passenger airbag and affect the stability of the roof. Thus, in the case of a roll-over proper installation will prevent the roof from collapsing on the occupants.
Quality-certified installation: the priority of VitrXpert technicians
There are no laws in Canada regulating the installation of windshields. A technician can therefore very well install a window in the way that suits him. For your safety and that of your passengers, choose accredited and certified technicians.
The windshield is one of the most important safety components according to the Safety Restraint System (SRS). It refers to the windshield as the third most important component for the safety of a car. For VitrXpert, this is THE most important.
Our technicians adhere to Canadian motor vehicle safety standards and FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) standards:
Standard FMVSS 208
When deploying the airbag, the windshield must provide a solid fulcrum.
Standard FMVSS 212
In the event of a frontal collision, the windshield must remain in place in order to avoid ejection of the passenger.
Standard FMVSS 216
When excessive force is applied – such as in a rollover – the windshield must prevent the roof from sagging to protect the occupants of the vehicle.
As soon as you detect a fault on your windshield, consult our technicians as soon as possible to avoid a complete replacement of the windshield. . They will repair your windshield whenever possible or replace it in its entirety if necessary.
The importance of a windshield that meets DOT and OEM standards
The windshield of your vehicle is one of the main parts ensuring your safety. In addition to supporting the passenger compartment in the event of a rollover, it retains passengers inside the vehicle in the event of an impact. However, are all car windows safe? At VitrXpert, the glass we use comply with government standards and are DOT and OEM certified.
OEM standards are even stricter than DOT standards by requiring 100% retention in frontal impact tests against 80% for DOT.
OEM windshields guarantee authentic manufacturing made from the same tools used to make the windshield that was originally installed by the vehicle manufacturer This ensures a perfect fit in addition to reducing the risk of water infiltration and air noise. The partnership between manufacturers of OEM glass and automotive manufacturers ensures a thorough knowledge of the structural engineering on the part of the manufacturers and an optimal product quality.
The DOT certification identifies the manufacturer who installed the glass. The US Department of Transportation requires that automotive glass parts have met the required performance criteria before they can be marked as DOT compliant.