Stone damage, or stone-chip, is the damage that

gravel Gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel occurs naturally throughout the world as a result of sedimentary and erosive geologic processes; it is also produced in large quantities commercially as crushed stone. Gravel is classif ...

and small stones can make to a

vehicle A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles ( motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles ( trains, trams ...

. Stone damage is most common on roads on which the allowed speed exceeds , since stones stuck in the tires come loose at that speed and fly away with such a speed that they can damage other vehicles. Stone damage can be dangerous in many ways. Stone damage can cause small cracks in the

windshield The windshield (North American English) or windscreen (Commonwealth English) of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike, truck, train, boat or streetcar is the front window, which provides visibility while protecting occupants from the elements. ...

that can refract or reflect normally harmless light in ways that can distract or blind the driver. Stone damage can also cause large cracks in the windshield – although this usually happens during the winter period due to the vast change in weather, but can also happen if the vehicle is exposed to vibrations or bumps. One of the largest contributing factors to stone damage on windshields is the fact that modern cars normally use quite thin windshields to reduce weight. Modern tires also contribute to stone damage due to having more tracks in which stones are able to get stuck inside of.

References

Stones Automotive events Glass applications Glass coating and surface modification Vehicle safety technologies Automotive safety Car windows {{car-stub

See also

References