A small chip in the windshield often seems like a trivial matter to drivers, but its size and, more importantly, its location have a direct bearing on whether the vehicle may legally continue to be used. As RBC-Ukraine reports, citing the current requirements for inspecting the design and technical condition of vehicles, as well as the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, not every crack automatically makes driving the car prohibited. The key criterion is the zone in which the damage is located.
The Wiper Operating Zone: Where Driving Is Not Allowed
The current technical requirements set separate rules for damage to the windshield. In particular, chips and cracks are not allowed at all in the wiper operating zone on the driver's side. This is logical: it is precisely this part of the glass that directly affects the driver's visibility, so any damage here creates a safety risk. Therefore, the common rule of thumb that 'a crack up to 5 cm is fine to drive with' does not always hold: if such a crack is located in the wiper operating zone on the driver's side, it is still not permitted.
Permissible Sizes in Other Zones of the Glass
For other zones of the windshield where the damage does not fall within the wiper operating zone on the driver's side, separate permissible sizes apply. In other words, the situation 'there is a small crack on the glass' by itself does not answer whether a violation exists — you need to look at exactly where the damage is and whether it fits within the allowed parameters. In addition, combined damage of one or different types is not permitted, which further narrows the list of acceptable glass conditions.
Liability Under Article 121 of the Code on Administrative Offenses
Article 121 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses provides for liability for operating a vehicle that has technical defects with which its use is prohibited. For such a violation, a fine of 20 non-taxable minimums of citizens' income is prescribed, which amounts to 340 hryvnias. At the same time, for the fine to be imposed, it is important whether the specific damage is precisely such a defect with which the vehicle may not be operated, rather than simply the presence of any scratch on the glass.
What a Driver Should Do After a Stone Impact
If a crack appears on the windshield after a stone impact or other damage, the first thing to do is assess its location and size. If the damage is in the wiper operating zone on the driver's side, it does not meet the established technical requirements and operating the vehicle with it is prohibited. If the crack is located in another part of the glass, you need to check whether it fits within the permissible sizes. Thus, a driver should not rely solely on how large the crack appears to be: it is the location, type, and size of the damage that determine whether the condition of the windshield meets the established requirements.
