Your windshield wipers are a key safety component for every vehicle. Most people think of seat belts and airbags as the safety mechanisms essential to the vehicle, and they are. However, properly functioning windshield wipers are also integral to a safe driving experience. Over time, the rubber blade can wear down or become damaged, which can result in impaired vision during a rainstorm.
In addition to general wear and tear over time, sharp objects such as rocks or pieces of ice can sometimes cause tears or holes in the rubber blade. With springtime showers at our doorstep, we highly recommend giving your windshield wipers a once-over and replace if necessary.
Here are a few indications that your windshield wipers are wearing out:
- Your windshield wipers skip across your windshield without making a firm connection with the glass. The rubber on the wipers is most likely wearing off and cannot make a firm seal with the windshield.
- The windshield wipers stutter across the windshield. The wipers do not make a solid connection to the windshield because the wiper rubber is wearing down.
- Your windshield wipers leave large streaks of water across the windshield. Without a tight seal with the windshield, the wipers will not be able to push away the water as well as possible.
Replacing windshield wipers is an easy fix that greatly improves your safety on the road. Mix a windshield wiper check into your car maintenance to-do list to make sure that you are driving safely during rainy conditions.