How to Improve Windshield Visibility in Poor Weather

Regardless of where you live, there’s no avoiding the fact that you’ll have to drive in poor weather from time to time – and the best way to ensure that you’ll arrive at your destination safely is by making sure that your car’s visibility is as good as it can be.

If you live in an area where the weather is agreeable most of the time, it’s possible that you don’t pay a lot of attention to your car’s windshield and wipers. It’s time to start paying attention to those things, though, or you’re liable to get a nasty surprise the next time you experience a sudden downpour while on the road.

If you’re here because you’ve already experienced a nasty surprise while driving – or you simply want to make sure your car is ready because you know that winter is on the way – this is the article for you. In it, we’re going to walk you through all of the key steps of getting your car ready for maximum visibility in poor weather. The best part is that many of the items on this list are quite inexpensive, and you can even do most of the work yourself. 

Here’s how to make sure that your car always has maximum visibility in rain or snow.

Clean the Inside and Outside of Your Windshield

If you want to ensure that you can always see when driving in poor weather, cleaning your windshield is the first step – especially if you haven’t done so in a while and typically use an automatic car wash. Automatic washes are great for removing the surface dirt and preserving your car’s paint job, but you need to use a little elbow grease if you really want your windshield to be spotless. Use a microfiber cloth and a strong streak-free auto glass cleaner or distilled white vinegar. Don’t forget to clean the interior of the windshield as well – especially if you smoke in your car. 

Check the Condition of Your Windshield Wipers

When you clean your car’s windshield, it’s the perfect opportunity to check the condition of your windshield wipers. During use, dust and dirt will get trapped under the wiper blades. The grime will prevent the wipers from maintaining firm contact with the glass, and that will prevent them from doing their job. Clean the wiper blades with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol. 

Windshield wiper blades typically last somewhere between about 6-12 months depending on the local weather conditions and how often they’re used. If your wiper blades continue leaving  streaks after you’ve cleaned them – or if you notice any cracks or tears in the blades – it’s time to replace them. A specialist company like Ezywiper can save you a trip to the auto parts store and offers a guaranteed fit for virtually any vehicle.

Make Sure Your Headlights Work Properly

The condition of your car’s windshield is the most important aspect of visibility when driving in poor weather. If you’re driving at night, though, having the clearest windshield in the world won’t matter at all if your headlights aren’t working properly. Make sure that your headlights work on both the low-beam and high-beam settings. It’s also important to keep an eye on the condition of the headlight lenses. If they’re fogged or yellowed, headlight lens restoration kits are available online and in any store that sells auto parts. They’re inexpensive, and they really work if you follow the instructions carefully. Having clear lenses will significantly improve the apparent brightness of your headlights.

Repair Windshield Damage Promptly

Do you have a pit or crack in your windshield that you’ve been ignoring? If so, you need to take care of it promptly before the problem gets worse. This is important even if the crack isn’t in your field of vision because a crack can expand suddenly at the worst possible time. It’s also important because small cracks and pits are often surprisingly inexpensive to repair. Once a crack becomes too large, though, repairing it will be impossible; it’ll be necessary to replace the entire windshield at that point. Glass repair can work surprisingly well. The resin that’s used to fill the crack dries completely clear, making it almost impossible to tell that the glass was ever broken.

Don’t forget that if you carry comprehensive coverage and live in Kentucky, Florida or South Carolina, your insurance company will waive the deductible if you file a claim for a replacement windshield. If your claim is covered, you’ll get a new windshield for free. If you live in one of those states, there’s really no excuse for driving with a damaged windshield.

Make Sure Your Windows Aren’t Fogging

During heavy rain or snow, the difference in humidity and temperature between the interior and exterior of your car can potentially cause the windows to fog. Before this happens, you should test your car’s defogger to make sure that it works properly. A defogger works by blowing hot air on the windshield and side windows to warm the glass and remove condensation. Test your car’s defogger during good weather. If hot air doesn’t come out, you should have your car checked by a mechanic.

When you use your car’s defogger during poor weather, it’s important to turn off air recirculation and allow fresh air to enter the car because the interior air is more humid than the exterior air. Some cars automatically disable air recirculation when their defoggers are turned on.

Use a Water Repellant Treatment

Once you’ve confirmed that your car is in the right condition for poor-weather driving, there are two additional things that you can do to make sure that your windshield remains as clear as possible during heavy rain or snow. The first thing that you should do is consider applying a water repellant treatment such as Rain-X if you live in an area that sometimes experiences heavy rain. This type of treatment coats the glass in a substance that makes water form beads and flow off of the glass. Some automatic car washes also include Rain-X treatments, although the treatment works better and lasts longer if you apply it yourself.

Use the Right Wiper Fluid for the Season

The final thing that you should do to ensure maximum windshield visibility in poor weather is make sure that you’re using the right windshield wiper fluid for the season. If you live in an area that experiences frequent heavy rain, use a fluid that leaves a water-repellant layer on the glass. If you’re expecting snow, use a fluid that melts ice. You can even find wiper fluid with detergent that helps to loosen stuck-on insects. Using the right fluid for your local driving conditions helps to ensure that your windshield will remain clear regardless of what comes your way.

Don’t Drive When It’s Not Safe

Reading this article, you’ve learned that it really isn’t hard to have a crystal-clear windshield and enjoy near-perfect visibility even in poor weather. In fact, the things that you can do to ensure maximum visibility are often surprisingly affordable and easy enough to do yourself. It’s important to understand, though, that there’s a limit to what a clear windshield and bright headlights can do. If you’re driving in snow or rain that’s heavy enough to restrict your visibility, don’t try to drive through it – find a safe place to pull over and turn on your hazard lights until the storm passes.