Rising Gas Prices Won't Deter Summer Travel
12 July 2000
Rising Gas Prices Won't Deter Summer Travel
MINNEAPOLIS - According to Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), July is the heaviest travel month in the United States. And despite higher gas prices, 20% of Americans surveyed by TIA said they planned to travel more than they did last summer and another 52% said they will travel at least as much as they did last summer. An estimated 237 million person-trips(a) will be taken by Americans between June and August 2000.With the increase in the number of miles logged, the likelihood of a cracked or chipped windshield also increases. Harmon AutoGlass encourages drivers to get damaged windshields repaired promptly because they affect the crash-worthiness of the vehicle.
"Most people don't realize that windshields are an important part of the structural integrity of a vehicle," said Thom Inman, technical services manager for Harmon. "A properly installed and maintained windshield is as important to passenger safety as seatbelts," he said.
According to Inman, properly installed windshields support airbags, contain passengers in the vehicle, prevent debris from harming the passenger, and provide strength to the roof in a roll over. Once a windshield is cracked or chipped, it can no longer perform those safety functions.
Harmon urges consumers to inspect their windshields regularly for cracks and chips. This is particularly important in the summer because sudden temperature changes to the windshield surface, caused by cold water from a car wash or cold air from an air conditioner, can turn a chip into a major crack instantly. If identified early, most chips can be repaired, avoiding a costly windshield replacement.
Harmon AutoGlass is the retail auto glass unit of the Glass Services business segment of Apogee Enterprises, Inc.