Sunny day, cruising on the highway – and suddenly “Bang”! A stone, kicked up by the car in front, hits your windshield. What now? An annoying stone chip on the highway is unfortunately not uncommon. Especially in heavy traffic and construction zones, the risk is particularly high.
But don’t panic! In this article, you will learn everything important about stone chips on the highway: from damage assessment to repair options and tips on how to protect yourself as best as possible.
What to Do in Case of a Stone Chip on the Highway?
Congratulations, you made it this far. This most likely means that your car was not hit by a meteorite. 😜 But seriously: A stone chip can be annoying and, in the worst case, lead to expensive repairs. That’s why it’s important to stay calm and act correctly.
1. Safety First!
- Carefully pull over to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights.
- Put on your safety vest and secure the accident site with the warning triangle.
- Pay attention to the traffic behind you.
2. Assess the Damage: How Bad Is It?
- Is it “just” a small stone chip in the windshield or are there already deeper cracks?
- Is the damage in the driver’s field of vision?
3. Decision Aid: Repair or Replace?
Smaller stone chips that are not in the driver’s field of vision can often be repaired with special resin. Larger damage or cracks in the field of vision usually require a complete replacement of the windshield.
“Often, repairing the stone chip is sufficient. However, it is important to have the damage assessed by a specialist as soon as possible,” advises master mechanic Hans Gruber.
