Since 1998, there have been more than 400,000 fatal automotive accidents. Of course, less than 1% are classified as school-related. Although the percentage appears low, that amounts to about 1,500 accidents in the last 20 years. On average, that is about 142 fatalities from school-related crashes per year. As a parent or teacher preparing for the new school year and back to school time, there are ways to ensure you are driving safely and keeping children safe during carpool, field trips, and even drives to after-school activities. The safety of your family is a definite priority. Before school is back in session, it is important to ensure your car is running at its best after long summer road trips and extremely high temperatures. We recommend you start with the basics and have the battery checked and replaced, if necessary. Tires should be rotated and aligned from time to time; schedule an appointment with your service provider to have tire service performed. They will be able to tell you if it's time for new tires. In addition, check the brakes on your vehicle for wear, change the oil, oil filter, and ensure the transmission is reliable. You may also want to take a look at your vehicle's windshield wipers and determine if they need replacing. Finally, and often forgotten, your car's windshield should be inspected. Small rocks and debris commonly found on roads during family road trips can cause small chips and even cracks to the windshield. In addition, extreme opposing temperatures like cool air conditioning on the inside of the vehicle during extremely harsh summer days can also cause chips and cracks to change or grow. A Glass America representative can inspect your vehicle's windshield and determine if a small crack could lead to a larger, more pressing one. If that is the case, our highly trained and certified technicians are available to repair or replace the windshield. With Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or Original Equipment Equivalent (OEE) quality glass that is made to the same specifications as your car's original windshield, Glass America guarantees that your replacement windshield will be a perfect fit. With one less thing to be concerned about, you can have peace of mind as you use your vehicle for the next nine months of school drop-offs, soccer games, and dance recitals. Contact the Best in Auto Glass today!