The arrival of autumn brings with it an increase in risks for motorists and their cars, not least when it comes to sustaining windscreen damage. Among the biggest perils is posed by major storms.

This time of year sees an increased risk as the UK is often affected by the remnants of hurricanes as they make their way across the Atlantic. While they no longer have their initial power generated by the hotter air of the tropics, having lost strength since landfall, they can still be significant.

Such storms can mean a lot of debris being blown onto cars, potentially damaging windows as branches and even pieces of masonry may fall onto the glass. Sometimes this can break a window, but on other occasions, a windshield may still need replacing even if the damage is less apparent, as it could have a crack that is beyond repair and certain to widen.

While the Great Storm of 1987 remains a historical exception, storms of significant frequency are common in the UK, with the Met Office and its counterparts in Ireland and the Netherlands now naming them. The first one of these, storm Ashley, was named as it approached on October 18th.  

The Met Office advises that in stormy weather people should park their cars under cover, such as in the garage, to prevent damage from falling debris. But not everyone has a garage and sometimes you may need to be out in your car, although for safety’s sake, you should avoid this unless your journey is absolutely necessary.

If your windscreen does suffer minor storm damage, it is important to get it addressed quickly. This is because you may be driving illegally if the crack impedes your vision, but also because if it can be fixed, it will need swift action to do so. But you should be prepared for the fact that a full replacement may be the best course of action.