At TeleGlass, we scour the Web to bring you interesting stories about your auto glass and windshields. That way you don’t have to!
Today’s offering comes from Sarah of Michigan, who recently blogged about losing, of all things, a windshield wiper. Our guess is that someone stole it. Hats off to Sarah and company, whose quick thinking led them to a simple solution to prevent the windshield from being scratched as they drove 15 miles in wet conditions. They moved the remaining wiper from the passenger side to the driver side, and covered the wiper arm with band aids, thus preventing an expensive auto glass replacement.
Nice job, Sarah! And thanks for agreeing to letting us share your experience with our readers.
Read more from
James Lee.
In 2009 he joined
TGSC Group as the managing director of product development. James brings expertise in customer satisfaction and service delivery to the team. He guest blogs for TeleGlass and is an
amateur photographer. Find him on Twitter @
jronaldlee.
Tagged as:
Band Aid,
Photo,
Windshield
In a tragic turn of events, Dawn Roe, mother of four, was driving in Plymouth, Indiana when sun glare obstructed her view, causing Roe not to see a semi-truck stopped in her lane. She crashed into the back of the truck and, sadly, died at the scene.
Out of tragedy often comes triumph, which is the case for Dawn Roe’s father, Jack Roe. As he stated in an article on BradentonHerald.com, “Time may heal some things but time will never heal the death of a child.” To aid the healing process, the elder Roe decided to create transitional automobile glass that could be used for windshields. The glass will work like transitional lenses on eyeglasses, depending on the conditions, when the sun hits the windshield, it will adjust the tint. Roe believes an invention such as his would have saved his daughter’s life.
He has applied for a provisional patent for transitional glass tinting and has been writing senators to inform them of his intent. Motivated by receiving patent-pending status this past July, Roe pushed forward and pitched his idea to Chrysler, GM and Ford. Indiana Senator Richard Lugar wrote to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration on Roe’s behalf as well. So far, no bites, however, the inventor has said he will pitch to manufacturers if the automakers aren’t interested in this type of auto glass.
At TeleGlass, we encourage new technology that improves vehicle safety standards. Besides our main business of windshield repair and other auto glass repair, our company is constantly on the look out for processes that make auto glass safer, more effective and durable.
Read more from
Blog Admin.
The Blog Administrator of Seeing Clearly. More of a collective intelligence than an actual person, the personification of a company that facilitates twentyfive thousand glass repairs every year. Find TeleGlass on
Twitpic or on Twitter:
@TeleGlass.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass Repair,
Safety,
Sun Glare,
Transitional Auto Glass,
Windshield
A chipped windshield isn’t a big deal, right? It’s only a small chip in your auto glass. A few weeks later you notice that the little ding has turned into a crack that continues to spread until it encompasses a good part of your windshield. You should be worried.
Damaged windshields should always be fixed, no matter how small the glass repair. Driving with any type of chip or crack can seriously put your life and the lives of your passengers in danger. First, the windshield is an integral part of the air bag deployment system. If an accident occurs, the windshield supports the inflation and performance of the passenger side air bags. Therefore, any damages to the automobile glass will reduce the effectiveness of the air bag system, most likely a chance you don’t want to risk. Also, the crack may continue to spread, which will obstruct your view and could cause an accident. If you are in a crash, the glass will most likely shatter because the existing chip or crack has already weakened the internal structure.
The next problem is your small windshield repair could turn into paying for costly replacement glass. Once you see a chip, get it fixed immediately through a respected auto glass repair company such as TeleGlass. When repairing your windshield, we adhere to both the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS).
Read more from
Michelle Chalmers.
As the Director of Member Relations, I find the "best of the best" auto glass companies to become members of TeleGlass.com. Our goal is to provide swift, quality service for all windshield replacements or repairs and it takes a keen eye to find the best.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass,
chips,
Safety,
Windshield
Do you find it a nuisance when someone leaves a leaflet on your windshield? It might be best to take a new Zen approach to these leaflets because recently the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco declared that citizens have a constitutional right to distribute such literature. It seems that leaflets on auto glass are here to stay.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “A Southern California city’s ban on placing leaflets on car windshields parked in the street can’t be justified as an anti-littering measure and probably violates free speech.” The city of San Clemente, located in Orange County, had an ordinance that punished those who distributed leaflets on automobile glass, citing that it was a form of litter. Recently a group of citizens were told they couldn’t distribute immigration literature on windshields. They contested the ordinance in court, and won. Apparently, it is in direct violation of free speech and does not warrant an anti-littering cause.
At TeleGlass, we keep a watchful eye on stories such as this one because anything that touches your glass is our business. Besides the usual windshield repair or replacement glass, we focus on trends, unusual news stories, safety standard updates and many industry-related topics as well as auto glass repair. If you are need of an auto glass repair though, you’re just a few clicks away from a confirmed auto glass appointment.
Read more from
Blog Admin.
The Blog Administrator of Seeing Clearly. More of a collective intelligence than an actual person, the personification of a company that facilitates twentyfive thousand glass repairs every year. Find TeleGlass on
Twitpic or on Twitter:
@TeleGlass.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass,
Windshield,
Windshield Leaflets
What is safe drive away time? It is a phrase you must understand when choosing an auto glass shop to replace your windshield. Safe Drive Away Time (SDAT) is the amount of time an adhesive requires to reach the level of strength necessary to safely hold a windshield in place in the event of a crash. The adhesive is the bonding agent auto glass companies use to seal your new windshield to your vehicle. There are many different adhesives a glass company can use and specific instructions they should follow for it to work correctly on your vehicle. Sika (a manufacturer of windshield adhesives) pioneered the concept of SDAT to the AGR industry in the early 1990’s, so I decided to include their web-site that has a great video that explains this concept.
http://www.noshortcuttosafety.com
Remember, there are no mandatory standards for auto glass replacement in the United States.
At TeleGlass, we want you to be informed through every step of your auto glass repair . The technician will inform you of what s/he is doing and usually in writing, including how long your car will need to sit for the correct SDAT. If you have any questions about your auto glass repair, feel free to speak with your technician. Our highly trained staff is friendly and more than happy to answer your questions.
Read more from
Michelle Chalmers.
As the Director of Member Relations, I find the "best of the best" auto glass companies to become members of TeleGlass.com. Our goal is to provide swift, quality service for all windshield replacements or repairs and it takes a keen eye to find the best.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass,
Auto Glass Repair,
Repair,
Replacement,
Safety,
SDAT,
Windshield
If when you think of bulletproof automobile glass, and the images that come to mind are the president, or other important political figures, military personnel, police, rappers, movie stars, etc. Then you would be correct. Bulletproof auto glass is hard to come by because it is custom-made and not easily replaceable like a normal windshield.
Bulletproof windshields are designed to stop one or many rounds of bullets whereas bullets will penetrate through regular glass and shatter upon impact. However, the strength of bulletproof glass depends on its thickness. It is laminated, just like regular glass, but the two pieces of glass that hold together an inner layer of polycarbonate is specialized. The glass pieces are thicker and the polycarbonate is designed with more advanced technology, and it is actually the polycarbonate that stops a bullet if it goes through the first layer of glass.
It is possible to order a full equipped, custom-made bulletproof car. Beside the glass, the car’s panel system is a combination of high tech resistant materials for the roof, front, rear and all sides, thus giving you one hundred percent coverage. In fact, in the 1920′s famous gangster Al Capone had two of his own bulletproof cars. Nowadays, a vehicle with such extensive protection could cost you around $100,000 and up. Being extra safe comes with a price.
Replacement glass or windshield repair for bulletproof auto glass is custom-made and is subject to strict regulations by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). At TeleGlass, we also comply with FMVSS for even the simplest auto glass repair. If you have any questions about specialized auto glass repair or windshield repair, we’d be happy to answer them here at TeleGlass.com.
Read more from
Blog Admin.
The Blog Administrator of Seeing Clearly. More of a collective intelligence than an actual person, the personification of a company that facilitates twentyfive thousand glass repairs every year. Find TeleGlass on
Twitpic or on Twitter:
@TeleGlass.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass,
bulletproof Auto Glass,
Repair,
Replacement,
Safety,
Windshield
Today’s Ask TeleGlass question was not asked by one specific person, it is however a question we are asked constantly by consumers. “If a windshield is not cracked, not chipped, but has tiny pits all over the windshield, is that something that is covered by insurance?”
The short answer to this question is that each insurance company has their own criteria as to what they will cover and you would be best off checking with your insurance carrier to answer this question.
The licensed insurance adjuster in me would tell you that your comprehensive insurance coverage (which is where your auto glass coverage lives) covers the auto glass when it is broken. In a nut shell, your insurance company insures you against things out of the normal course of events with your vehicle, and the insurance company would make your vehicle whole again after a loss. For example, some crazy kids go and vandalize your vehicle and break your door glass and you have comprehensive coverage, well that is covered. You didn’t plan on that happening, and there was nothing you could have done differently to prevent this from happening.
A pitted windshield however, is one of those things that does not happen overnight. Pitted windshields, or sandblasted windshields, look like little diamond specks all over the windshield, especially when it is sunny out. Pitted windshields occur over time and are often considered normal wear and tear on the vehicle. For insurance coverage, you can view a pitted windshield like you view rust on a vehicle. Rust on a vehicle is an occurrence that can happen over the life of your vehicle, and rust is something that would not be covered under your insurance as it is normal wear and tear on a vehicle.
Even though pitted windshields are often considered wear and tear on a vehicle, at TeleGlass we can still help you replace that windshield by providing you with a great price and a quality shop to get that windshield replaced.
Read more from
Rachel Letourneau.
System Process Manager, Rachel has been with Teleglass for six years. In addition to making a mean birthday cake, Rachel has an extensive grasp of the auto glass business. Find her on Twitter:
@rachelcrocker.
Tagged as:
Insurance,
Pitted Windshield,
Windshield
This scenario has happened to many drivers. You’re to rushing work, a few minutes late already, and are about to hop in your car when you notice something is wrong. Auto glass is strewn on the sidewalk, sticking to the soles of your shoes. You then realize it’s your car and your automobile glass.
Car vandalism is a serious crime; therefore, make sure to call the police immediately and have an officer come to the scene to make a report. The next step is to call your insurance company so you can have the incident on record. Whether it’s a broken windshield or window, do not touch it, since the glass’s jagged edges may seriously injure your hand. Perhaps the most important rule, which many people forget, is to stay calm. There is no need for panic, unfortunately the crime is done and over and the only thing you can do now is follow the appropriate steps.
If you have been vandalized, most likely you’ll be in need of a windshield repair or other auto glass repair. The next step is to find a trusted glass repair company, such as TeleGlass. We provide additional assistance by working with the insurance company on your behalf by filing claims and handling paperwork. We can also save you a lot of hassle by sending out our mobile service van. Our highly trained technicians will come to your home and fix anything from cracks in windshields to installing full replacement glass. Often times, it takes thirty minutes or less for us to service your car, and depending on the time, you can make an auto glass appointment as early as the very same day.
Read more from
Blog Admin.
The Blog Administrator of Seeing Clearly. More of a collective intelligence than an actual person, the personification of a company that facilitates twentyfive thousand glass repairs every year. Find TeleGlass on
Twitpic or on Twitter:
@TeleGlass.
Tagged as:
Repair,
Replacement,
Safety,
Vandalism,
Windshield
Ever get lost? We think everyone, whether they want to admit or not, has gotten lost at least once in their life. So for those who like to know where they’re going, there’s GPS. Now a standard among drivers, GPS stands for Global Positioning System (in case you didn’t know). It provides navigation, positioning and timing services in any type of weather, day or night, anywhere in the world. Using broadcast signals from satellites in space, GPS provides three-dimensional location: longitude, latitude and altitude.
GPS has become so common that installing it in your car is a simple process. A popular trend is windshield mounted GPS, which attaches to your auto glass by a suctioned arm. Windshields remain unharmed because the mount is designed with rigid multi-angle joints. This feature reduces vibration while driving, thus reducing any wear and tear on your automobile glass. A suction cup with a lock lever ensures a secure mount to stabilize the system even more. Also, if you are a driver who often changes cars, the GPS can be moved from windshield to windshield quite easily.
GPS is a reliable way to keep your concentration on the road. Worrying about where to turn or what interstate to take by looking down at handwritten directions may lead to an accident. If so, the driver could sustain serious injuries, or face costly a glass repair such as a windshield repair, or if completely damaged, full replacement glass. In order to forego the frustration of getting lost and to save yourself an auto glass repair, purchasing a GPS may be the way to go.
Mounting a device to your windshield is not legal in all localities; please check before attaching anything to your windshield.
Read more from
Blog Admin.
The Blog Administrator of Seeing Clearly. More of a collective intelligence than an actual person, the personification of a company that facilitates twentyfive thousand glass repairs every year. Find TeleGlass on
Twitpic or on Twitter:
@TeleGlass.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass,
Windshield,
Windshield GPS
When riding with a pet, you may think it’s as simple as putting your animal in the backseat and opening a window. However, pet safety should be a priority, especially in regard to auto glass. Dogs especially love to roam around the interior of cars, looking out the front windshield or sticking their heads out of a vent windows. This practice may seem fun and cute, yet it could be dangerous. In fact, horror writer Stephen King was struck by a driver who could not restraint his pet while driving.
The first step to pet safety is to consider purchasing a type of restraint device. For dogs, you can buy a harness which holds the animal in place and attaches to the seatbelt. Another viable option for both dogs and cats is a carrier, which restrain the animal completely. Believe or not, for small dogs, booster seats are available, similar to a child’s, they lift up the dog so s/he can see out the window or windshield, and a seatbelt fastens across the dog’s body.
Make sure the next time you take a drive, for your safety and theirs, strap your pet in. And as always if your auto glass is damaged, contact us here at TeleGlass. We are happy to replace your windshield, any needed windshield repairs or any other auto glass repair you may need.
Read more from
Michelle Chalmers.
As the Director of Member Relations, I find the "best of the best" auto glass companies to become members of TeleGlass.com. Our goal is to provide swift, quality service for all windshield replacements or repairs and it takes a keen eye to find the best.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass,
Pets,
Safety,
Windshield
