It is a more common experience than we think: you are driving the car, a stone hits the front window and it suffers a small break. This annoying incident may seem somewhat irrelevant if it is a small brand, but the truth is that it will most likely get worse over time.
An impact, hitting a speed bump or pothole, or a sudden change in temperature can cause that tiny burst to get bigger and bigger, resulting in a noticeably cracked windshield. Of course, glass breakage can also be caused by other causes, such as vandalism or faulty installation. Whatever the case, does driving with a broken front window carry a fine?
Visibility is a fundamental axis in driving and the front window is our main source of reference for driving safely, accompanied by the rearview mirrors. A cracked windshield represents an obstacle to this optimal visibility, which entails a risk for the occupants of the damaged vehicle itself and other people involved in traffic, whether other drivers, pedestrians or other methods of personal mobility.
Aside from the important issue of safety, if you drive with a cracked windshield you risk a fine. In the General Traffic Regulations (RGC) there is no specific mention of driving with a broken front window, but there are two articles where this issue is implicitly referred to.
On the one hand, article 18 states that the driver of a vehicle is obliged to maintain the necessary field of vision. Likewise, article 19 states that “the glass surface of the vehicle must allow, in all cases, the driver’s clear visibility over the entire road on which it circulates.”
Taking into account these considerations, if an officer considers that the breakage of the windshield hinders visibility and represents a risk to road safety, it may result in an offense punishable by a fine of 200 euros. In cases where the crack in the glass is very pronounced, the vehicle may even be immobilized.
Therefore, if your windshield has a defect, whether it is a small burst or a more serious break, it is best to go to a workshop as soon as possible to have it repaired. If the break is small and not very deep, it can be fixed in half an hour, while if the break is larger it will be necessary to replace the front window with a new one. This last case will require more time and will be more expensive but, in any case, you can report it to your insurance company, which could assume the amount depending on your contracted policy.
