Windscreen Pitting: How Does It Happen and What Can You Do About It?

When your vehicle's windscreen is intact, it is easy to take it for granted.  That's why it can be so frustrating when you are driving along the road, and the sun rays shine on parts of the glass. Whether this happens for just a second or minute, it can blind you and prevent you from focusing on the traffic ahead. If you have experienced this problem or noticed glares and specks on some parts of the windscreen when the sun hits it, you could be dealing with windshield pitting. Read on to learn more about this condition, how it happens, its effects, and the measures you can take to prevent it.

What are the causes of windscreen pitting?

Windscreen pitting is a natural form of wear that occurs after prolonged use of the vehicle. As you drive along the highway every day, the car kicks particles and debris from the road to the windscreen. The debris can be in the form of the following:

  • Sand
  • Small, sharp objects propelled by the wind
  • Road salt and gravel used during the winter season
  • Seaspray and salty air

As these particles hit the windscreen, they scrape and scratch the glass. Although the glass is thick and shatterproof, continuous impact from debris causes it to pit. As a result, your visibility on the road will be partially obstructed based on the extent of the pitting.

Should you be concerned about pitting?

Windscreen pitting should be a concern of every driver who values their safety on the road. A pitted screen will cause blinding when you drive in the sun or towards another vehicle's headlights at night. In extreme cases, this can lead to accidents due to poor visibility. Also, pitting weakens your car's windscreen due to the constant impact. This compromises the structure of the glass and its ability to protect you in the event of a front-end crash. Pits do not go away but only get worse over time. Therefore, it is worth taking care of them to prevent obstructed driving.

How can you prevent windscreen pitting?

As aforementioned, pitting is part of the natural wear process of your car's windscreen. However, there are measures that you can take to reduce the amount of debris that flies to your screen. First, you can avoid driving at extremely high speeds as this is what causes the wheels to kick particles to the screen. Drive at lower speeds to protect the glass from flying particles. You can also avoid weathered roads, especially those with a lot of debris on the surface.

Contact a windshield repairs contractor, like one from National Windscreens, to get the glass replaced if it has suffered extensive pitting.


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