The Portland, Oregon, area is an ideal place for scenic drives and road trips. While exploring the beautiful nature found in Portland, however, you should also be aware of your vehicle's condition as you drive. Despite all the beauty and sites to see, you may run across some windshield hazards.
Learn about various hazards, how to avoid windshield damage, and what to do when an incident has occurred.
Falling Tree Branches
The Portland, Oregon, area is full of lush forests and scenic roads surrounded by trees. Unfortunately, many of those trees hang right over the road and present hazards. If a tree branch falls while you drive, the impact of the branch could smash or crack your car windshield.
If a branch falls at a specific angle, then the branch could even go straight through the glass and impale the windshield. When a windshield has suffered dramatic damage, you want to limit the amount of driving you do; try not to pull the branch out of the glass because you may cause more damage.
Many windshield glass companies offer same-day service that allows you to have the whole windshield replaced so you do not need to drive with the hazard. Once you reach a safe location, park your vehicle and the windshield repair company can meet you at your location.
Animals
A lot of wildlife is found in the Portland area, so you may see many creatures as you travel down scenic roads and through parks. While a number of animals are harmless to your vehicle, you may still run into trouble.
For example, high-speed cars and low-flying birds do not often mix well. A collision with a bird can cause a crack or chip in the windshield. The force from the high speeds can easily cause the glass damage. Oregon is home to many larger birds, which may make windshield damage more likely. Be on the lookout for bigger birds like the red-tailed hawk or peregrine falcon among others.
Additionally, if you drive at night, you need to be aware of the great horned owl swooping through the sky. Although the chance of you making contact with one of the birds is rare, the damage that can occur is substantial. Contact with just a single talon could result in a spider crack that spreads across the windshield.
A crack may seem small at first, but the more it spreads, the greater the damage becomes. If you contact a windshield repair company quickly, you may be able to avoid a full replacement and can have small damage repairs. A glass technician may fill in a crack or chip to restore the windshield. If the crack has spread too much, then a full replacement is likely.
Route 99 Truckers
One of the main highways in the Portland area is Route 99. While the route gives you access to many scenic drive areas, you could run into windshield hazards as you travel on the busy road. One potential hazard to be aware of are Route 99 truckers. As trucks travel, you want to look out for falling debris from behind the trucks.
Trucks may carry loads with rocks, gravel, and other materials that fly out of the back. The flying debris can crack or chip windshields, especially when traveling at fast speeds. Sometimes the incident happens so fast you don't even notice until later on or when a smaller crack has spread.
If you are driving behind a large truck, try to move into another lane or increase the distance between your vehicle and the truck. When a chip or crack has occurred, you may continue to drive to your destination. But you should still look into repairs quickly, especially if the crack has occurred on the driver's side.
You do not want the crack to impair your view while driving. A police officer could also issue a ticket if your windshield crack obstructs the view. The driving laws in Oregon allow a police officer to decide what entails an obstruction of view, so you do not want to take any chances.
Winter Travel
Driving through Oregon in the winter can provide some beautiful sights as you spot trees and large rock formations all covered in snow. As you plan a scenic drive, you should always take a closer look at the weather report. While a gentle snow wouldn't cause any windshield damage, you want to avoid extreme weather conditions.
Oregon may be prone to sleet, hail, or freezing rain. Frozen pellets falling from the sky can hit windshields at high speeds and cause small cracks. The most likely damage would occur with large pieces of hail, but you should show caution during the extreme weather and avoid scenic driving during those periods of bad weather.
For more information on windshield repair, contact us at MS Glass Outlet. We can help repair and replace windshields of all shapes and sizes. Your glass will be clean, clear, and ready to go for your next scenic drive in the Portland area.
