Chip seal problems - part 4

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Story Published: May 29, 2009 at 4:48 PM MST

Story Updated: May 29, 2009 at 4:51 PM MST

By Steven Pope

UPPER VALLEY - I asked Jenifer Brocker, an All State Broker, when the increase in windshield damages began.

"It's been this way for about a year and a half... What I've noticed, there's been a lot windshield chips and cracks going on. We used to just see chip repairs, we're now seeing complete windshields. Mainly because of the chip seal, the rocks are a lot bigger coming off the vehicles that are hitting the windshields," said Brocker.

Local insurance companies took a second glance at glass coverage, and at least one of them no longer offers chip repair because of the increase in claims.

Brocker continued, 'Customers have started asking what they can do to avoid this. I say well stay 2 car lengths behind and sometimes 3. And there's no guarantee."

All State's Business has gone up because their chip repair remained free, but they've still had upset customers who have had to pay standard deductibles to replace windshields with cracks.

Brocker then showed me why a cracker appeared on this windshield, "This crack here, this is a newer vehicle, in the older vehicles you probably would have just had a windshield star here. Because the older vehicles have the original windshield in them."

Behind the wheel of an older car, I saw a windshield that received 5 chips along highway 20 where the seal coat has failed. But because it's an older windshield the chips didn't turn into cracks.

"This is a newer vehicle, you get hit with a rock it's going to crack just like this," continued Brocker.

It may not be a bad idea to lower your deductible if you plan to drive on highway 20.

You can also make a claim at the Idaho Transportation Department in Rigby if you get a chip or crack in your windshield because of the chip seal failure.

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