Protect Your Windshield: Don't Drive Too Close

You might be in a rush, but there are plenty of reasons why you shouldn't trail closely behind the car in front of you. While an increased accident risk might come to mind, there are plenty of other scenarios that can play out if you drive this way. Stay back to protect your windshield.

Imperfections in the Road

In a perfect world, all the roadways would be smooth and imperfection-free. However, the reality is that the average road has its fair share of holes and dips. When a car goes over a pothole or a bump in the road, especially at a higher speed, the impact with the imperfection sends a surge of pressure through the car. The pressure can cause body damage, wheel alignment issues, and can also create a crack in the windshield. 

When you drive too closely, you don't get the chance to preview the conditions of the road ahead of you. The further behind you travel, the more time you have to spot and react to an imperfection in the street. 

Ground Debris

A common reason for unexplained damage to a windshield has to do with debris on the ground. Streets are often lined with scattered gravel and rocks. As the car in front of you accelerates, its tires will pick up some of this debris and send it flying into the air. If you travel too close to the car in front of you, the flying debris could make an impact with your windshield. 

Even a tiny piece of gravel traveling at high speed is enough to chip glass. Since there is nothing you can do about the debris on the road, the best thing you can do to protect your glass is to stay back.

Careless Drivers

You should never trail closely behind a truck. People use trucks to haul all types of materials. In some instances, people will adequately secure their loads, and sometimes they won't. If the latter is true and you drive too close, whatever they have in their bed will start to fly up and could land right on your windshield. 

Not only can this type of driving scenario damage the glass, but it could also limit your visibility, which will increase your risk for an accident. If you see items flying out of the truck bed, not only should stay back, but you might also want to switch lanes. 

Make sure you give yourself some space when you drive. After all, the more space you have on the road, the more you can protect your auto glass, and your car overall. However, since life happens, in the event you have any damage to your windshield, make sure you have a repair performed as soon as possible. Contact a shop, like Lloyd’s of Shelton Auto Glass LLC, for more help.