Legality of driving with cracked windscreen

[talkingcats]

This morning my windscreen as cracked by a flying bit of grit.

It is long 12 inch crack in Zone D (not affecting my visibility and completely obscured by the sun visor). So I go to my insurers and am directed to their "preferred" supplier, an outfit called national windscreens. They quoted me mid September to replace the windscreen!! The car is a 2015 BMW 330but fortunately isn't a smartypants model with electrics in the windscreen, so I was expecting it would be fairly simple to replace. I am not comfortable driving around with it for three weeks. The crack may get larger and I do not want to be pulled over and fined. Obviously.

I am going to try other repairers even if it means I have to pay a larger excess for not going with my insurers pet supplier. Though it could be that there are parts shortages causing the delay. I will have to check.

But can anyone advise whether it is legal to drive the car in its present state. I have attempted to attach a picture.

Thanks!

[imagineifyeswill]

Yes it's still perfectly legal to drive as long as it's doesn't affect the drivers vision

[mmm-five]

In my case on a F31 320D...mine went from a stone chip on the way home, to a 6 inch crack the following morning.

It was either wait 2 weeks for them to come and fit it remotely, or take it in to their local depot the following day.

Is this a similar option you've been offered, and it's the mobile fitting that's causing the delay?

[Tyre Smoke]

And even if it does get bigger, it's not going to shatter. You'll be fine for a couple of weeks until National Windscreens replace it.

Honestly, it won't be worth the bother to get someone else to do it.

[talkingcats]

mmm-five said:

In my case on a F31 320D...mine went from a stone chip on the way home, to a 6 inch crack the following morning.

It was either wait 2 weeks for them to come and fit it remotely, or take it in to their local depot the following day.

Is this a similar option you've been offered, and it's the mobile fitting that's causing the delay?

Thanks for your reply. That was the first thing I asked. Would it be quicker if I took it to their nearest centre. The answer was no. I'd have been quite happy to do that.

[talkingcats]

Tyre Smoke said:

And even if it does get bigger, it's not going to shatter. You'll be fine for a couple of weeks until National Windscreens replace it.

Honestly, it won't be worth the bother to get someone else to do it.

Thanks. I'd rather not spend an extra £105 if I do not need to

[Tyre Smoke]

It's annoying, but safe.

And you could waste ages on the phone to save only a couple of days.

[S100HP]

This happened the other day. Right on the edge of the screen. Was about an inch max, next day was like this. Was booked in for Monday, which has just been cancelled as they smashed their only replacement apparently. I don't have much of an option at this time.

[g3org3y]

I'd continue to drive it. Had a cracked screen on my E36. Because of other various issues, I wasn't going to spend the money to put it through the MOT so didn't make sense to pay £££ to repair. Consequently just continued to drive it in this state until the day it was retired.

[Glassman]

I'm seeing plod turn a blind eye (or did they even notice?) to many offences. Like, the other day sat in traffic; d/c, three cars bomb down the bus lane (7am-7pm restriction) so I doubt anyone's about to get tugged over a cracked windscreen.

It's safe to drive but if you would rather have it replaced (rightly so) there's a service delivery issue with the nominated supplier so why should you be subject to a penalty for finding someone who can get the job done sooner?

[vonhosen]

Glassman said:

I'm seeing plod turn a blind eye (or did they even notice?) to many offences. Like, the other day sat in traffic; d/c, three cars bomb down the bus lane (7am-7pm restriction) so I doubt anyone's about to get tugged over a cracked windscreen.

Bus lanes, along with parking & a lot of other traffic management offences are now council remit, not Police.
Windscreens and most vehicle condition offences are still under Police remit. That of course doesn't mean you are going to get tugged by Police but you are more likely to for that than for a bus lane.

[Glassman]

vonhosen said:

Glassman said:

I'm seeing plod turn a blind eye (or did they even notice?) to many offences. Like, the other day sat in traffic; d/c, three cars bomb down the bus lane (7am-7pm restriction) so I doubt anyone's about to get tugged over a cracked windscreen.

Bus lanes, along with parking & a lot of other traffic management offences are now council remit, not Police.
Windscreens and most vehicle condition offences are still under Police remit. That of course doesn't mean you are going to get tugged by Police but you are more likely to for that than for a bus lane.

• they were speeding too (local road men from Wood Green)

[Teddy Lop]

My vans had a crack in the form of inverted v that spans the entire windscreen that I've been crap about doing something about.

As said I think the po don't have time to care. 20 years ago you'd have been stopped and attitude tested and ordered to sort it.

While I'm here who's best to call? 19 plate transit with heated glass, sensors etc so is that something I don't want a muppet working on?

[Foss62]

vonhosen said:

Glassman said:

I'm seeing plod turn a blind eye (or did they even notice?) to many offences. Like, the other day sat in traffic; d/c, three cars bomb down the bus lane (7am-7pm restriction) so I doubt anyone's about to get tugged over a cracked windscreen.

Bus lanes, along with parking & a lot of other traffic management offences are now council remit, not Police.
Windscreens and most vehicle condition offences are still under Police remit. That of course doesn't mean you are going to get tugged by Police but you are more likely to for that than for a bus lane.

Based on many of your other comments, surely the circumstances described would fall into ‘without reasonable consideration’ and more likely to result in a pull than being sat in the traffic with a windscreen crack?