A new survey has found almost four in five motorists are unaware of the consequences having a cracked windscreen could have.
The UK roadside assistance provider Green Flag, surveyed 2,000 adults and found 78 percent did not know a cracked windscreen could lead to three penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500.
Yet, the survey also found 36 percent of respondents reported the issue within the last two years.
The cost of living crisis has impacted the speed at which people repair their windows, with only 47 percent of drivers saying they would fix the windscreen immediately and more than a quarter saying they would delay the repair to save money.
Similarly, just over a quarter explained they would only resolve the issue if it impaired their vision, reports the Nottingham Post.
Katie Lomas, the head of Green Flag Breakdown, said: "To avoid chips and cracks, it's important to drive carefully and leave a greater distance between the vehicle in front of you on rough and busy roads where there may be loose debris."
Depending on the vehicle, fixing a windscreen can cost drivers anything between £40 and £118. However, replacing the entire window can cost up to £1,650 on specific cars.
Despite this, one in 10 drivers said they waited for a chip to worsen before having it repaired. Katie said: "Windscreen chips should be repaired almost as soon as they appear to prevent further damage spreading as these can easily turn into a crack and a much larger and more expensive problem.
"It's also important to keep in mind that repairs are especially important when obscuring visibility for the driver." Chips and cracks on a windscreen can also result in MOT failures, and your car is unlikely to pass if it has a 10mm windscreen chip in the field of vision, which is something only around 20 percent of surveyed drivers were aware of.
