What should you do to protect your glass before a road trip?

Hey folks! This is Patrick from Chip Happens Auto Glass.

Welcome to another Q&A session where I answer questions from y'all on the internet.

Today's question is:

"What should you do to protect your glass before a road trip?"

Summary:

Patrick's advice for protecting glass before a road trip centers on handling what's within your control. He recommends getting any small rock chips or similar damage repaired before leaving, so you aren't stranded somewhere without access to that service if the chip begins to spread during the trip. Beyond that, he's candid that there isn't much more a driver can do -- avoiding new damage largely comes down to luck and not catching a stray rock thrown from a tire or the road. He suggests maintaining a safe following distance and taking sensible precautions, but acknowledges you can't fully prevent debris from striking the vehicle. The key is fixing existing chips beforehand and then driving defensively.

Answer:

Before going on a road trip, the main thing you can do to keep your glass safe is to address any small rock chips or similar damage before you leave. That way you're not caught somewhere that doesn't offer that service if the chip starts to spread on you while you're away from home. Beyond that, honestly, there isn't a lot you can do -- it really comes down to having a little luck on your side while you're on the road, and not catching a stray rock flying off a tire or off the roadway. So other than being mindful of your following distance and taking sensible precautions there, there's not much you can do to avoid debris flying at your vehicle while you're out and about. The takeaway is to fix what you can control -- existing chips -- before the trip, and then drive defensively to limit your exposure to new damage on the road.