Add Windshield Check to Safety List in Spring

    PITTSBURGH, March 2 The windshield is a critical component
of a car's safety system, but experts in the auto glass industry worry that
car owners don't understand its importance.

    In an effort to keep drivers and their families safe, the Certified Auto
Glass Technicians at PPG PROSTARS suggest car owners check their windshields
on April 1, a day when they will set clocks forward for daylight-saving time
and test their home smoke alarms.

    "Semi-annual windshield inspections take only a few minutes, but they are
an important part of assessing your car's safety," says Russ Corsi, manager of
technical services, PPG Industries, Inc. "In an accident, the windshield helps
support your car's roof so that cave-in potential is minimized, and allows
your airbag to function properly."

    Corsi and the Certified Auto Glass Technicians at PPG PROSTARS offer the
following windshield safety tips for spring:

    -- Keep your glass clean.  Make sure you have enough washer fluid at all
       times.  Keep extra fluid, de-icer, glass cleaner, and a squeegee or
       cloth handy for when you need them.  A clean windshield provides better
       vision for the driver.

    -- Prevent scratching your windshield by replacing wiper blades at the
       first sign of wear.  Never run them over dry glass, because worn wipers
       can damage the glass and impair vision.

    -- Apply a long-lasting rain repellent treatment to your windshield for
       improved vision on rainy days.

    -- While cleaning your auto glass, also clean your headlights.  Often car
       owners do not notice that dirty headlights can decrease night vision.

    Any windshield damage should be fixed right away, especially if it
obscures your vision.  That's why it's important to choose a professional auto
glass shop that offers replacement glass made by an original equipment
manufacturer such as PPG, LOF or Carlite.  Auto glass needs to fit precisely
in the window frame to perform its safety functions.

    "Minor windshield damage that only affects the outer layer of the
laminated safety glass can be repaired before it spreads and requires
additional time and money to fix.  Chips smaller than the size of a quarter
and not in the driver's direct line of sight can be repaired in about 30
minutes," says Corsi.

    If damage appears in the driver's line of vision, state law requires that
the windshield be replaced.  Installation time depends on the adhesive used,
weather conditions, and the thoroughness of the auto glass technician.  Corsi
advises car owners to ask glass shops for an estimate, including the amount of
time the car needs to sit before its safe and legal to drive again.