BERLIN: Getting your windscreen hit by a stone is always annoying, but not enough to make most drivers immediately get it fixed.
But what many owners of more modern cars don't consider: The hit could interfere with the sensitive driver assistance system, says Achmed Leser from Tuv, a leading technical inspection association.
Leser recommends replacing the windscreen entirely if the damage is near a camera sensor. That's because the optical systems usually use the cameras installed in the upper part of the windscreen to detect how much distance is between the vehicle and the car in front of it.
If a stone hits this area, the images could become corrupted. "Even just one hit from a rock can impair the assistance system's sensors so badly that it can no longer detect certain hazards," warns Leser.
Some damage can be patched up, but that usually works only if it's outside the driver's field of vision, and only if it's is no larger than a US quarter. There can also be no cracks, and the damage must be at least 10 centimetres away from the edge of the windscreen.
In the end, however, whether the damage is repairable or your vehicle needs a new windscreen must ultimately be decided by a shop.
