Ongoing road works on South Africa’s busy routes has resulted in a surge in reports of windscreen chips and cracks.
‘But, the good news for consumers is that having windscreens repaired or replaced would seldom effect their premiums and result in them losing their no-claims bonus,” says Caroline da Silva, head of portfolio management at Santam, South Africa’s largest short-term insurer.
‘Remember that just because a windscreen is chipped doesn’t mean that it needs to be totally replaced. Thirty percent of the time a windscreen can easily and affectively be repaired with resin before damage worsens.
‘Once a motorist notices a chip or a crack, it is a matter of getting it repaired as soon as possible, preventing further damage that might impair visibility.
‘It is wise to keep the chip clean and dry in the days leading up to repair to prevent further damage from occurring.”
Better windscreen-repair technology has allowed insurers like Santam to repair a large percentage of the windscreen claims lodged last year rather than having to replace the entire windscreen. Repairs obviously cost less than a full replacement and at no excess to the policyholder.
‘The windscreen is a vital component in the structural integrity of the vehicle and adds strength to the body or shell of the vehicle. It also acts as an initial barrier in the event of an accident,” says Da Silva.
Repair rather than replace a chipped or cracked windscreen if the damage:
is not situated in the driver’s line of vision;
does not run from the edge of the windscreen;
does not extend through more than the outer layer; or
if the crack is not too long.