Over time a car’s windshield will become pitted and worn from tiny debris cascading off its surface. Even worse, the ding of a random piece of gravel can leave a bull’s-eye scallop or form a crack that compromises the glass, necessitating the need to repair or replace the windshield. Windshield risk is not an inevitable consequence of daily commuting, however. Strike away significant glass damage by following these driving tips whenever you get behind the wheel.

Stop Problems Before They Compound

If your car’s windshield already has a small chip or two, have a glass specialist assess whether the blemish can be repaired; that is your first step in limiting damage. For safety reasons, however, you need to have a specialist such as auto glass Baton Rouge install a new windshield if repair is not recommended.

Plan Your Route Carefully

If you give yourself enough time to reach your destination, you can plan your drive to avoid adverse conditions. Map apps can outline construction zones, which you should try to drive around; in particular, avoid chipseal repaving areas at all costs, where small, loose stones are used to treat roads. Try to familiarize yourself with the location of disintegrating roadways on your regular commute, and choose alternate paths.

Avoid Trucks

While planning routes, try to skip thoroughfares where semitrucks run. Because of their extra wheels, tractor-trailers throw more broken asphalt and rocks in the air than do any other vehicles; their larger tires also hurl the debris higher than those of passenger vehicles.

Slow Down

The faster you drive, the greater the impact a stone will make on any surface of your car. When your car travels at slower speeds, a rock might glance off its window, where at high speeds the stone would likely gouge a dent into the glass.

Avoid Tailgating

Leave plenty of space between your car and the ones you are tailing. Not only is this style of driving safer, but it also creates room for thrown rocks to fall to the ground rather than hitting your car. Using a road sign or other object as a point of reference, count off three seconds between when the car in front of you crosses the landmark and you do. That should provide the appropriate buffer.

Car glass technology has advanced significantly since windshields first appeared on vehicles. Amazingly, you can go on a long road trip and reach your destination with nary a scratch on yours. Still, windshields are not indestructible. Paying attention to how and where you drive can clarify the odds your windshield can give decades of service.