No - regardless of the type, damage to a windshield is serious and should be addressed as soon as possible. Windshields may seem like a mundane safety feature, but they are an incredibly important one. A damaged windshield loses its ability to withstand the impact from a flying object and can become a serious visual obstruction. In fact, you can even fail your car inspection if the facility deems the obstruction bad enough.
While a small chip or crack may not seem like a big deal initially, they rarely stay that way. The more a crack or chip spreads, the weaker your windshield becomes, increasing the likelihood that it will fail completely and become a true driving hazard.Â
Furthermore, your windshield plays a key role in providing safety in the event of a rollover because the force applied to the frame of the vehicle is partially transferred through the windshield. To illustrate, think of an aluminum soda can. If you press down on the top of it, the force is equally applied from top to bottom. However, if there is a dent in the side of the can, it buckles and crumples flat beneath the pressure. Similarly, a crack or chip in the windshield can become a weak point and compromise the vehicles structural integrity.Â
Lastly, a cracked windshield can present serious problems when it comes to visibility. Not only do the cracks and chips themselves make it difficult to see if they are on the driver's side, they can cause light (both sunlight and headlights) to reflect in problematic ways.Â
For all of these reasons, a chipped or cracked windshield should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. As with most things in the world of automotive repair, the longer you wait, the more expensive it is likely to be.