The Windshield & ADAS Checklist Every Driver Should Do Before Holiday Travel
As the year winds down in Northwest DFW, schedules start filling with Christmas events, family gatherings, travel plans, and end-of-year errands. From Roanoke to Trophy Club and up through Northlake and Westlake, December becomes one of the heaviest driving months, and one of the most important times to ensure your windshield and safety systems are ready for the road. 🎄🚗
Many people don’t realize how interconnected modern vehicles have become. Years ago, a cracked windshield was mostly a visibility issue. Today, it can affect your entire safety system. This is because most vehicles now use ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), things like lane keep assist, forward collision alerts, and adaptive cruise control. These systems rely on a forward-facing camera mounted behind the windshield.
If the windshield is replaced, that camera must be recalibrated. If not, your vehicle may misread lanes, distance, or road markers. And during December, with early sunsets, holiday traffic, and busy highways, you want every safety feature working exactly as intended.
But even before you get to recalibration, the windshield itself plays a larger role in safety than people expect.
Small chips can spread quickly during December. Cold mornings, warm afternoons, and sudden temperature swings make glass expand and contract at a faster rate. A chip that held steady in October may suddenly stretch across your field of view in winter.
Visibility is another concern. December roads in Northwest DFW bring:
• heavy evening traffic,
• more nighttime driving,
• foggy mornings,
• holiday weather shifts, and
• more long-distance travel.
A chipped or pitted windshield can scatter light from headlights and street lamps, making nighttime visibility more stressful. Many drivers tell us they first notice glare or haze while driving through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights or heading home from a school performance.
This is also the time of year when families take road trips, whether to visit relatives, head to holiday festivals, or simply enjoy seasonal activities. A clear windshield reduces fatigue, improves reaction time, and keeps your focus on the road rather than adjusting your view around a crack.
A quick year-end windshield and ADAS checklist can help:
1. Inspect your windshield in daylight and after dark.
Glare at night reveals damage you can’t see in the afternoon.
2. Watch for new chips after temperature drops.
They appear more often in December than most people think.
3. Make sure your defrost clears the glass evenly.
Uneven fogging is a hidden sign of damage.
4. If replacement is needed, ensure ADAS recalibration is included.
It’s essential, not optional, for today’s vehicles.
5. Use mobile service so you’re not adding extra errands during the busiest month of the year.
A technician can meet you at home, work, or even during holiday prep.
Optic-Kleer Northwest DFW handles both windshield work and ADAS recalibration in one visit, making holiday prep simpler and safer. And as a local business, we understand the roads, traffic patterns, and seasonal challenges unique to our area.
December should be about enjoying the people you love, participating in community traditions, and making memories, not dealing with last-minute glass issues or safety concerns. 😊
A little attention now keeps your holiday travel smooth, safe, and stress-free.
📞 (940) 206-7126
🌐 OpticKleerNorthwestDFW.com
Many people don’t realize how interconnected modern vehicles have become. Years ago, a cracked windshield was mostly a visibility issue. Today, it can affect your entire safety system. This is because most vehicles now use ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), things like lane keep assist, forward collision alerts, and adaptive cruise control. These systems rely on a forward-facing camera mounted behind the windshield.
If the windshield is replaced, that camera must be recalibrated. If not, your vehicle may misread lanes, distance, or road markers. And during December, with early sunsets, holiday traffic, and busy highways, you want every safety feature working exactly as intended.
But even before you get to recalibration, the windshield itself plays a larger role in safety than people expect.
Small chips can spread quickly during December. Cold mornings, warm afternoons, and sudden temperature swings make glass expand and contract at a faster rate. A chip that held steady in October may suddenly stretch across your field of view in winter.
Visibility is another concern. December roads in Northwest DFW bring:
• heavy evening traffic,
• more nighttime driving,
• foggy mornings,
• holiday weather shifts, and
• more long-distance travel.
A chipped or pitted windshield can scatter light from headlights and street lamps, making nighttime visibility more stressful. Many drivers tell us they first notice glare or haze while driving through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights or heading home from a school performance.
This is also the time of year when families take road trips, whether to visit relatives, head to holiday festivals, or simply enjoy seasonal activities. A clear windshield reduces fatigue, improves reaction time, and keeps your focus on the road rather than adjusting your view around a crack.
A quick year-end windshield and ADAS checklist can help:
1. Inspect your windshield in daylight and after dark.
Glare at night reveals damage you can’t see in the afternoon.
2. Watch for new chips after temperature drops.
They appear more often in December than most people think.
3. Make sure your defrost clears the glass evenly.
Uneven fogging is a hidden sign of damage.
4. If replacement is needed, ensure ADAS recalibration is included.
It’s essential, not optional, for today’s vehicles.
5. Use mobile service so you’re not adding extra errands during the busiest month of the year.
A technician can meet you at home, work, or even during holiday prep.
Optic-Kleer Northwest DFW handles both windshield work and ADAS recalibration in one visit, making holiday prep simpler and safer. And as a local business, we understand the roads, traffic patterns, and seasonal challenges unique to our area.
December should be about enjoying the people you love, participating in community traditions, and making memories, not dealing with last-minute glass issues or safety concerns. 😊
A little attention now keeps your holiday travel smooth, safe, and stress-free.
📞 (940) 206-7126
🌐 OpticKleerNorthwestDFW.com