If you commute anywhere between Tacoma and South Seattle, you are likely very familiar with the daily grind of Interstate 5. Between the endless construction zones, heavy commercial trucking, and fast-moving traffic, I-5 is an absolute gauntlet for your vehicle’s windshield.
It only takes a split second for a stray piece of gravel to kick up and leave a starburst chip right in your line of sight. While you can’t control the road conditions, the team at Five Star Auto Glass has put together a few proactive driving strategies to help you protect your windshield on your daily commute.
- Increase Your Following Distance The number one cause of rock chips is tailgating. When you follow the car ahead of you too closely, you are right in the “strike zone” for any debris kicked up by their rear tires. By increasing your following distance—especially at highway speeds—you give that flying gravel time to fall back to the pavement before it reaches your windshield.
- Steer Clear of Commercial Trucks and Construction Vehicles Dump trucks, flatbeds, and 18-wheelers have massive tires with deep treads that easily pick up and launch rocks. Additionally, trucks hauling dirt or construction materials often lose small amounts of debris out of the back, no matter how securely they are covered. If you find yourself behind a construction vehicle on I-5, change lanes as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Avoid Driving on the Far Edges of the Highway Debris, loose gravel, and tire remnants naturally get swept to the edges of the road (the shoulders and the median) by the flow of traffic. If you are driving in the far-left or far-right lanes, cars drifting slightly over the line can easily kick that accumulated debris directly into your windshield. Sticking to the middle lanes when traffic allows can reduce your risk.
- Be Cautious Near On-Ramps and Construction Zones Construction zones in areas like Fife or Federal Way are notorious for loose asphalt and gravel. Similarly, cars merging onto the highway from on-ramps often drag debris from the shoulder into the main lanes. Slow down and stay highly alert in these transition areas.
What to Do If You Get a Chip Even the most careful drivers catch a bad break sometimes. If a rock hits your windshield on I-5, the most important thing is to act fast. A small chip can easily be repaired by a professional, saving the factory seal of your windshield. However, the vibrations of highway driving can quickly turn that chip into a crack that requires a full windshield replacement.
If your windshield has taken a hit, call Five Star Auto Glass. We provide top-tier windshield repair and replacement services from Tacoma to South Seattle, ensuring you can get back on I-5 safely and with a clear view.
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