Due to the persistent onslaught of weather events, coupled with the daily wear and tear from passing traffic, bitumen roads across the country steadily deteriorate, meaning small stones and debris are lying in wait. These little rocks pose a significant risk to your vehicle’s windscreen by potentially causing windscreen chips and ultimately also windscreen cracks.

If you are unfortunate enough to have a chip turn into a crack in your windscreen… do you know if you can continue to drive with a cracked windscreen or not?

In this article, we’ll help you find the answer and walk you through the steps to take in the event of a windscreen crack.

The difference between a chip and a crack.

This seems obvious, but it’s good to know whether your windscreen damage is a chip or a crack.

A windscreen chip is a localised form of damage to the glass typically caused by the impact of a small rock or debris.  A chip can range in size and shape and generally doesn’t go beyond the first layer of glass. Whereas a windscreen crack is a more substantial and lengthier break in your glass that can happen instantly or develop over time.  You can’t miss a windscreen crack! One challenge with cracks is that once formed, they can also extend into larger damage, sometimes while you’re driving, and this can be unexpected and even impair visibility.

More about your windscreen glass

Your front windscreen is made of laminated safety glass. This type of “safety” glass is designed to respond to excessive amounts of force and break in a way that is ‘safe’, due to having an interlayer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) that is fused together between two sheets of glass. This flexible clear interlayer is extremely strong and will hold the glass together on impact, rather than shatter. A crack usually occurs in the top layer of glass, and not affecting the bottom layer of glass, which is protected by the strong interlayer.

By design, your windscreen, if it cracks, will not shatter or fall in on the car’s occupants.

So, what causes a crack?

Often, it starts with a chipped windscreen, which may seem like a mild problem in the short term.  However, there is always the chance of the chip potentially turning into a large crack.

Your windscreen is a tough piece of vital glass in your vehicle, but when damaged by a chip (e.g. from a stone), it sometimes doesn’t take much for that chip to expand and crack.

Factors that can cause a chip to crack include:

• hail and storms,
• bumpy roads/terrain and vibrations,
• sudden temperature changes,
• putting pressure on the windscreen, and
• direct impact of any kind.

If this happens, the whole windscreen may need to be replaced at a higher cost, so it’s best to get on top of things. In fact, even if the damage remains as a chip but exceeds the following sizes, our technicians will need to replace the windscreen:

• Larger than a 5c coin (on the driver’s side and in the driver’s critical vision area)
• Larger than a $1 coin (on the passenger side or middle)
• Less than 5cm away from any edge of the windscreen.

Note the Australian Standard sets out a lot more rules for when a chip should not be repaired, such as proximity to previous repairs, maximum repairs in areas of the windscreen, and smaller sizes of chips of certain shapes, as well as when the chip damages both sides of the glass plus a few other things. Our expert technicians can advise you if your chip can be repaired once they’ve assessed the damage.

What happens if your windscreen cracks while you are driving (which, let’s face it, almost always happens)?  What do you do then?

My windscreen just cracked – can I still drive?

Apart from the inconvenience and extra cost, getting a crack in your windscreen will not mean you have to stop driving your car necessarily.

Every windscreen crack is different, no one is the same.  They can be across the whole screen or just a section.

The most important thing to remember is that your windscreen is designed to crack and remain in place (and not fall in or out).  So, if the crack/damage doesn’t interfere and obscure your visibility while driving (that is, the crack is directly in front of the driver’s critical vision area), and you feel safe to drive, you can still drive your car.

PLEASE NOTE:

• If your car has Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (referred to as ADAS), the forward-facing camera that is part of the ADAS system may be affected by the crack, especially if it is at the top of the windscreen. So, it may not be safe to rely on your car’s ADAS features until you get the windscreen replaced and your car’s forward-facing ADAS cameras recalibrated.
• Each State in Australia is governed by road rules, which determine when you are permitted to drive with a cracked windscreen. You should be aware that in some States, police can issue fines for cracked windscreens, so it is best to fix your windscreen as soon as possible.

Steps to take to fix a crack in your windscreen.

As mentioned above, cracks happen! Here’s what to do if you get one in your windscreen.

1. Assess the damage

If the crack has happened while driving on a road trip, and you feel safe to drive, and the crack is not obscuring the driver’s vision in any way, you can still drive your vehicle.

We recommend stopping at a safe and secure location, to fully assess the damage on the windscreen and the rest of the vehicle before continuing. If you don’t feel you can drive your car safely with the cracked windscreen, our mobile windscreen service may be able to get to you.

2. Call O'Brien

Call O'Brien  (we’re available 24/7) to discuss your options with our friendly team member. Whether you have insurance or not, our experts can help arrange your replacement glass for you, including kicking off the claims process if required.

With over 60+ service centres nationally, plus a network of expert Authorised Dealers as well, we can help arrange a booking at the location nearest to you or even opt for our mobile service (for select replacements).

We will do our very best to get you a booking as soon as possible. However, there are times when your preferred glass is not available immediately, or there is not a suitable slot available until a bit later. Know that we’ll endeavour to get your repair done as promptly as possible, but if there is a delay for whatever reason, like your windscreen glass needs to be ordered, be assured that provided it does not obscure the driver’s vision you can drive with a crack in your windscreen until it can be replaced, subject to State rules and regulations.

Got a crack in your windscreen, we’re your local experts.

Call O'Brien® AutoGlass today to help with replacing your cracked windscreen.

A cracked windscreen is always unexpected and usually frustrating, but with O'Brien®, we make the replacement process easy for you and worry-free.

Our skilled technicians can replace your windscreen in around 90 minutes, or if your car has ADAS, we can usually complete the replacement and recalibration within a day. Call 1800 059 829 today to speak to our friendly O'Brien® experts for help with your windscreen damage.

The post Can I drive with a cracked windscreen? appeared first on O'Brien.

Now, it’s time for our BOA 2024 winner, Jack Karssemeyer, to take his place on the global stage to compete against 29 other technicians from around the world at the Best of Belron competition
in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Best of Belron is a biennial global event held across the Belron Group designed to recognise and determine the best Belron technician worldwide. The competition will see technicians from 30 different countries worldwide showcasing their skills and expertise. Over the course of two intense days, they will complete a range of vehicle glass repair, replacement and Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) recalibration tasks, using Belron’s standard repair and replacement processes, known as the Belron Way of Fitting.

We sat down with Jack to learn about his journey, his preparations for the upcoming competition, and his experiences (so far) at O’Brien®.

Jack, you recently won the Best of Australia title. What has that been like since winning?

Jack: Winning the BOA has been a pretty crazy feeling. I have had my eyes set on it since starting at O’Brien® just over four years ago, so achieving it sooner than I expected was incredible. It’s been unusual to have everyone in the company recognise my face and name, but amazing at the same time; it just goes to show we’re all family here at O’Brien®.

I also think it’s made me more excited about my work at O’Brien®. This competition has reinforced to me the importance of the smaller aspects of our job, and I’ve found joy in paying attention to the little details that can really show how much we care about our customers.

You’re heading to the Best of Belron competition in Lisbon soon. Are you excited? How are you feeling about it?

Jack: Absolutely, I’m very excited. This is as big as it gets for our profession. The preparation has been so intense, but I feel ready. It’s a great opportunity to showcase my skills on a global stage.

Can you walk us through your training regimen for this competition?

Jack: Sure. So, I’ve been fortunate to be pulled out of my regular branch at Moorebank to undergo high-intensity training and with less than one week to go, we’re still going strong. It’s been a whirlwind, but incredibly exciting.

My training has been very focused. For the past two months, I’ve been working to perfect the intricate details of the windscreen fitting. With the support of the O’Brien Centre of Excellence Technical Team, we’ve been improving these minute aspects to ensure I can execute it perfectly on the day. It’s all about the small details that make a big difference both in competition and to our customers.

What sort of support have you received from the team at O’Brien®?

Jack: Since March, the support has been incredible from across the business, with everyone behind me to help me succeed at BOB.

Shout out to my branch manager, John Paton, he has been amazing (as have my whole Service Centre team). The entire Technical Trainer team have been there for me, with additional training and mentoring.

My coach in the Technical Trainer team, Phil Cole, who won the Best of Australia in 2022, has been with me in Sydney for the final two weeks of my one-on-one training as well. Overall, the commitment from everyone has been so great, and it reflects the strong team culture we have here at O’Brien®.

Learn more about Phil’s experience at the Best of Belron 2022 here.

What would winning the international competition mean to you and your team?

Jack: Winning would be indescribable, especially as Australia/O’Brien® has never done it before. It would be a huge accomplishment, not just for me, but for the entire team that has supported me. It would be a win for all of us at O’Brien®.

Do you think anyone at O’Brien® could achieve what you have so far? And what would you say to someone considering joining the team at O’Brien®?

Jack: Definitely. With a passion for what you do, perseverance and the right mindset, anyone can achieve what I have. It’s about putting in the effort and staying dedicated to your craft.

That’s why I think everyone should consider a career at O’Brien® – the opportunities are endless and it’s very rewarding. Outside of the competition, helping customers and seeing their relief when everything is fixed is a great feeling.

I’ve also made some of my closest friends here and after four and a half years, I still look forward to going to work every day. The people and the supportive environment make it a great place to be. If you’re thinking about a career here, I’d say go for it. You never know where (in the world) it might take you.

Finally, what are your plans after the competition?

Jack: After the competition, a few of my family members and partner are flying over, and we’re planning to make a trip out of it and explore a bit of Europe together. I’ll be away from work for about five weeks, but it’ll be a well-deserved break. I can’t wait!

The entire O'Brien® team is behind Jack as he represents the team in Lisbon – we’re proud of you!

Next time you need to get your windscreen repaired or replaced, think of the team at O'Brien®. We’re your trained experts in all things windscreen glass – book online or call 1800 059 829.

At O'Brien®, we’re proud to have so many outstanding Vehicle Glass Technicians, as well as many other team members, working for our company right across Australia. If you would like to be part of our technical expertise and service excellence culture at O'Brien® visit obriencareers.com.au for more information today.

The post Countdown to Best of Belron 2024 – a chat with Jack appeared first on O'Brien.

With 64 O’Brien® AutoGlass locations across Australia, there could be an expert technician nearby, ready to assist you with your vehicle glass needs.
Today, we wanted to shed some light on what the O’Brien® AutoGlass mobile service covers, so decided to have a chat with one of our most experienced mobile technicians, Mike Kelly from the Smeaton Grange Service Centre in Sydney.

We asked Mike a few questions about the work he does each day at O’Brien® to help keep his customers on the road. We hope you learn about the ins and outs of the O’Brien® Mobile Service and a few handy tips as well.

Q: Tell us about what services you provide as part of the O'Brien® AutoGlass Mobile Service.

Mike: Every service centre has at least one qualified Mobile Service Technician who specialises in providing convenient windscreen replacements and repairs. As a Level 5 technician with 19 years of experience, I primarily work on the road, replacing windscreens at customers’ homes, businesses, or even at the beach– essentially wherever our customers need us, provided it’s a safe location.

We can help with chip repairs, windscreen replacements (for non-ADAS vehicles), door and rear glass replacements and we can even offer additional services like windscreen wiper and cabin filter replacements as well.

When you make a booking, our call centre team can confirm if there is a mobile service option available at your service centre for the time you’d prefer.

Q: Is it safe for someone to drive with a chip or crack in their windscreen?

Mike: A chipped windscreen may seem like a small problem in the short term, but there’s a chance that that chip may spread and eventually turn into a large crack. There’s no issue driving with a chip, however, there’s no knowing when a chip could turn into a crack. In fact, it will often when you least expect it, so it’s wise to get a chip repaired as soon as it happens.

In the event of a crack appearing, if the crack doesn’t impede the driver’s vision, it’s usually ok to drive your vehicle to a safe location, but you should seek our assistance immediately afterwards. That’s what’s good about our Mobile Service, so you can avoid the need to drive with reduced visibility and unsafely.

Q: What tips do you have for customers that they can follow right away in the event of getting a chip in their windscreen?

Mike: A chip in your windscreen means that your windscreen is weak where this damage is, which means your windscreen could crack at any time. So, the best approach is to get it fixed as soon as you can.

A handy tool to keep in your glovebox is an O'Brien® Saver Patch Kit. These are free, and available at your local O’Brien service centre. This clear sticky patch can cover your chip and prevent moisture or dirt from being embedded in the cracks of the chip. While this patch won’t prevent the chip from turning into a crack, it could help improve the cosmetic appearance of your repaired chip. If the chip is kept clean, there’s a better chance of the repair being less visible. But the best thing is to act quickly to repair your chip, which can save you from having to replace your entire windscreen. Like we say in our ads, repairing a chip is definitely FASTER, CHEAPER and GREENER.

I repair lots of chips every day, as it’s very convenient for customers to have us come to them (instead of bringing their car into our service centre). And I always leave behind a few Saver Patch Kits (because you never know when you will get a chip).

Q: How long does a typical windscreen replacement take, and what is the process like?

Mike: At the start of my day, I’ll have already loaded up the new windscreen for your vehicle (which our branch team arranged to have ready at our centre when you first booked with us). This means I’ll have not only your new windscreen but all the tools I need to complete the installation when I arrive and once I’m there, at the customer’s location, I get straight to work.

On average, a windscreen replacement takes around 90 minutes to complete.

Once the replacement is done, we recommend you let the car sit for approximately half an hour to ensure everything sets properly which means you’ll usually be back on the road and safe, within about an hour and a half.

Note that if you go to a service centre for a windscreen replacement, you will need to allow an extra 30 minutes (depending on how busy they are), and if your car has ADAS features, it will require additional time for a recalibration to be performed.

Q: How do you ensure you have the right glass for each job?

Mike: At O’Brien®, we have a vast inventory of prefabricated glass covering a wide range of vehicle makes and models at our National Warehouse, something in the range of 150,000 different shapes and sizes.

When a job request comes in, we verify the vehicle’s specifications and promptly order the necessary glass from our national warehouse. Technicians like me are trained to identify the correct glass type, and our advanced inventory management systems ensure we make the accurate choice. Plus, with the extensive delivery network, the right glass is delivered to our service centres quickly as well.

Q: Can you provide the Mobile Service anywhere to customers?

Mike: We can provide our services at customers’ homes, businesses, or even at convenient public locations like shopping centre car parks.

However, for safety reasons, we typically require off-road parking to carry out the work efficiently. If a vehicle is stuck on the road due to damage, we’ll assess the area for safety and proceed accordingly. If possible, it’s also great if the vehicle can be kept under cover as working with glass in the direct sun can be blisteringly hot – that’s a great help to us. For example, if the glass is too hot, we have to wait until it cools down to perform a chip repair (which adds extra time to the job and can delay you getting back on the road).

As Mike, our mobile tech expert said: if you’ve got a chip in your windscreen, don’t wait.

Remember, it doesn’t take much for a windscreen chip to turn into a crack, plus, chip repair is faster, cheaper, and greener than windscreen replacement.

So, don’t wait for the chip to turn into further damage.

Have your windscreen chip repaired by a friendly expert technician like Mike who can come to you and help get you back out on the road fast.
Call 1800 059 829 or visit our website to book your repair or replacement today.

Do I look familiar? You’re probably right! You may have seen me in the recent O'Brien Group Brand ad. To view the ad, click here.

The post Behind the Scenes of O’Brien® Mobile Service: On the road with Mike Kelly, an O’Brien® Technician. appeared first on O'Brien.

It’s a high standard that we uphold in every aspect of our service. To achieve this, we focus on:

• innovative technology,
• tried and tested processes,
• continuous training for our Automotive Technicians and
• dedication to providing the highest level of care to our customers.

So, as we do every two years, we’re once again putting a spotlight on the signature O’Brien® excellence by bringing together our top Automotive Technicians from all over Australia.

The final of the Best of Australia 2024 is nearly here!

Here’s everything you need to know before the adrenaline-fueled showdown that’s being held on 14th March.

What is the Best of Australia competition?

Started in 2007, the Best of Australia competition is an esteemed event held every two years that pits the top O’Brien® Automotive Technicians against each other in a series of challenges designed to test their skills and expertise.

The winner of Best of Australia, then goes on to compete on the world stage against the best Technicians from other countries across the Belron Group (read on for more detail on this exciting event).

This year, there are seven Technicians who each won their state competitions in 2023 and secured a spot to represent their region at the upcoming final event. We’re bringing together these winners for the ultimate test on 14th March at Doltone House, Darling Island, Sydney.

Meet our Best of Australia 2024 finalists

This year’s finalists are proud to represent their regions for the Best of Australia 2024.

Our seven finalists are:

Bengt Stayte of O’Brien® AutoGlass Townsville QLD
Marco Pieri of O’Brien® AutoGlass Morley VIC
Sam Mullan of O’Brien® AutoGlass Launceston TAS
Nat Rouessart of O’Brien® AutoGlass Tuggerah NSW
Jack Karssemeyer of O’Brien® AutoGlass Moorebank NSW
Jack Collins of O’Brien® AutoGlass North Parramatta NSW
Jeremy Marshall of O’Brien® AutoGlass Coffs Harbour NSW

The winner of the Best of Australia Competition will then go on to represent O’Brien® at the coveted Best of Belron Competition in Lisbon, Portugal this June.

We spoke to one of the national finalists, Jack Karssemeyer, from the O’Brien® AutoGlass Service Centre in Moorebank, Sydney, about the upcoming contest.

“Since I started working as a trainee technician with O ’Brien®, the Best of Australia has always been a dream to aspire to being part of. It’s a unique experience to be able to compete in your field of expertise against other technicians for such an honoured title and get the chance to represent O’Brien on the world stage as well!”

“We’ve spent a bit of time together in Brisbane, with each of use working and training closely with our mentors from the Technical Training team. Our goal is to master the Belron Way of Fitting enough that we don’t even have to think about the next step – it’s second nature to all of us now.”

Jack K. competing in the regional competition doing a Chip Repair

About the Best of Belron competition

The Best of Belron is a biennial global event held across the Belron Group, who is the largest automotive glass company in the world, with brands across every continent worldwide, including O’Brien® here in Australia. This competition recognises the best technicians worldwide who specialise in using Belron’s standard repair and replacement processes, known as the Belron Way of Fitting.

The Belron Way of Fitting captures the expertise and know-how of automotive glass around the world and defines a best-practice approach to repairing and replacing vehicle glass.

This signature process maximises safety, endorses technical quality to the highest standard and places a focus on continuous improvement of the service we offer our customers at O’Brien® AutoGlass.

The finalist for each country is decided through a national competition held by each member of the Belron Group (for O’Brien®, this is our annual Best of Australia event), with the winners going on to compete in the international round against 30 other countries.

Find out what it’s like going to Best of Belron here from the winner of BOA 2022, Phil Cole, who went to Barcelona, Spain.

Gearing up for the finals

The seven competitors, with the support of their mentors from the O’Brien® Technical Excellence and Training team, have now completed their final training phase of their preparation for the upcoming event.

“The finalists have poured their hearts into their work, and we are absolutely thrilled to see them bring their A-game to the competition floor.” – Mohamad El-Chami, Technical Training Manager

Sean Brookes, Head of Technical Training and Excellence added, “I am immensely proud of the exceptional work accomplished by our competitors and technical trainers the Best of Australia 2024 competition. It’s the pinnacle of the technical calendar across Belron, and witnessing the dedication and excellence displayed by all involved at O’Brien fills me with immense pride and gratitude.”

Beyond the competition, the O’Brien® Best of Australia event highlights our company’s commitment to ongoing training and expertise throughout our organisation.

We understand that our success is only due to the success and dedication of our expert technicians and staff, and this ongoing commitment is a testament to the quality of service that O’Brien® provides to its customers right across Australia.

The Technical Trainer team, cheering on the competitors at the final regional event in 2023.

Support your local O’Brien® techs!

If any of these phenomenal O’Brien® AutoGlass Technicians are from your local service centre, be sure to wish them luck before they head off to Sydney to compete for the O’Brien® Best of Australia crown!

We wish all our finalists the very best of luck for the upcoming competition, and we look forward to announcing the Best of Australia winner soon!

Want to join the fun and be part of one of Australia’s most iconic brands?

Fancy competing in BOA in the future? If you think you would, why not consider a career at O’Brien®? We’d love to hear from you!

O'Brien® is always on the hunt for talented people who are looking to start a career with us. Head on over to O’Brien® Careers and find the perfect role for you.

Of course, for all your vehicle glass repair and replacement needs, call 1800 059 829 and speak to one of our expert team at O’Brien® today!

The post Gearing Up for O’Brien® Best of Australia 2024 appeared first on O'Brien.

Hailstorms can result in damage to property, especially cars. The impact of hail stones can damage your car exterior, side and rear windows, and windscreen.

According to a recent report from the Insurance Australia Group (IAG), hailstorms are likely to become more frequent and intense in Australia due to climate change, with large parts of southern and eastern Australia most at risk.

With that in mind, you’re probably wondering what you can do or use to keep your vehicle safe in a hailstorm.

Here are some ways to help protect your car from hail and potentially prevent the resulting vehicle repair costs if you happen to be where one hits.

4 tips to keep your car safe from hail damage

Thousands of Australian vehicles are damaged by hail every year. Depending on your circumstances, there are a range of options to help protect your car and keep it safe in the event of a hailstorm:

1. Check the weather forecast.

Prevention is better than a cure! Weather forecasts aren’t iron-clad but can often predict severe weather like hailstorms. Checking a dedicated app or website like the BOM Weather App can help you remain alert and aware, giving you more time to prepare or get undercover.

If your local council provides a weather alert system via SMS, it’s also worth signing up for. Plus, it’s handy to keep an eye (and an ear) on the news throughout the day, too.

2. Avoid driving during a hailstorm.

Driving during a hailstorm can be dangerous.

Not only can it be challenging to see, but the hailstones may cause damage to the body of your car, its windows or the windscreen. When going on an extended trip, always check the weather forecast to ensure no hailstorms are scheduled for when you’ll be on the road.

3. Park your car undercover.

The best way to protect your car from hail is to park your car in a secure undercover location, like a garage or carport. But this is not always possible.

If hail starts raining down while you’re on the road, help keep yourself safe by slowing down, turning your headlights on, and driving cautiously to a nearby covered car park or anywhere with some cover. If no shelter is around, when safe to do so, pull over to the side of the road and wait inside your car for the hail to stop. Make sure you don’t park your car under trees, by power lines, or near bodies of water that might flood during the storm. Stay aware of your surroundings and take the necessary steps to keep safe.

4. Use a hail car cover or blankets.

As the name suggests, a hail cover is designed to cover your car and reduce the impact of hail damage on the vehicle. While a hail cover may not completely prevent damage, it may reduce the severity of the impact that hail stones can cause.

Ideally, a hail cover should only be used as a last-minute option if proper shelter is unavailable. In place of a hail cover, another option is to use large, thick blankets draped over the car to minimise the damage done.

If nothing else is available, you can always use the car floor mats from your car to cover your windscreen glass, which may be the difference between being able to drive your vehicle or not.

Please remember that if you are caught up in a hailstorm, and your vehicle glass does get damaged, it can be dangerous to drive your vehicle as your vision may be impaired.

Call your O’Brien^® AutoGlass experts

Keeping an eye on the weather can go a long way in helping to protect and maintain your vehicle glass. In the unfortunate event of sustaining damage to your glass from hail, or you’re worried about a chip or a crack, the expert team at O’Brien^® AutoGlass will make it easy with our in-branch or mobile service.

At O’Brien^®, we have specialist technicians who can assist you whether you need a chip repair or a windscreen replacement. Not only does our vehicle glass comply with Australian and international standards, but no matter what make or model your car is, you can depend on us and drive away knowing the job has been done right.

For more information about our services, call us on 1800 059 829 or send us a message to speak with one of our friendly staff.

The post Tips On How To Protect Your Car From Hail Damage appeared first on O'Brien.

However, not all chips can be repaired, so let’s explore what’s involved.

Can my windscreen chip be repaired?

The good news is that minor windscreen damage in the form of a small chip is generally repairable.

However, there are a few reasons that you may need to replace the entire windscreen, including:

• The chip hinders the driver’s line of sight.
• The new chip damage is close to previously repaired chip.
• There’s been too many previous repairs.
• The chip damage has gone through more than a single layer of glass.

Whether the windscreen can be repaired by O'Brien^® or not depends on three primary factors including:

1. Location of damage

If damage is located in the driver’s critical vision area, only small damage is recommended for repair under the Australian Standard. This is because the chip repair process leaves a small blemish in the glass, and it must not be of a type or size that could distract the driver’s vision.

Any damage that extends to the outer edges of the glass can make it tricky for us to apply our tool to the chip and obtain a good repair to a broken edge of the screen.

Chips in the small viewing area of cameras which look through the windscreen are also currently not recommended for repair by most vehicle manufacturers.

However, in most cases, minor windscreen chip damage can be repaired and if the damage is on the passenger side (outside of the driver’s critical vision areas) then slightly larger chips can be repaired by O'Brien^®.

2. Size and depth of the chip

A windscreen chip with a diameter of around 2.5 centimetres (roughly the size of a $1 coin) can generally be repaired on the passenger side. However, if the windscreen chip has managed to penetrate the outer layer as well as the inside layer of the windscreen glass, then it will need to be replaced.

If your chip windscreen is left unattended, then it could turn into a crack at any time, often when you least expect it. At O'Brien^®, we recommend that you get your windscreen replaced by an expert vehicle glass technician as quickly as possible after the damage occurs. Quickly having your chip repaired not only reduces the risk that it might crack but also will improve the cosmetic quality of the repair as the amount of debris trapped in the chip generally increases over time. Debris in the chip can reduce the cosmetic quality of the finished repair.

3. The severity of windscreen damage

Keep in mind that if your windscreen has taken a serious enough impact, it is most likely beyond the point of repair, so replacing it may be your only option. When in doubt, simply contact the O'Brien^® AutoGlass experts for advice on the options we have available.

For more information on assessing whether a chip can be repaired by O'Brien^®, view our previous article here.

When do I need to replace my windscreen?

The main reasons are if it is damaged beyond repair recommended by the Australian Standard, or there is significant damage obstructing the driver’s line of sight. If this is the case, then there is not really any other option than to replace it.

If you find your windscreen is leaking or whistling but is still intact and undamaged, then you should get it assessed by a vehicle glass expert. The likely outcome is that the adhesive is not doing its job and the windscreen needs to be removed and refitted, but not replaced.

Windscreen chip repair can benefit more than just you and your car

As we mentioned earlier, a repair is the ‘greener’ option when compared with a windscreen replacement. It’s also cheaper, benefiting your back pocket! And it’s faster, saving you time. How you ask? Great question!

It’s also greener

The short answer is you get to keep your existing windscreen. Windscreens weigh about 15kgs and require lots of resources to produce and transport. The repair also only requires a tiny vial of resin, which is used to fill the micro cracks, to reinforce the strength of the glass in the spot where it has been damaged.

It’s also faster

A chip repair takes just 30mins to complete where a windscreen replacement takes around 90mins.

It’s also cheaper

As you are saving your existing windscreen you don’t have the added expense of paying for a new replacement windscreen. Plus, if you have ADAS safety features such as auto braking or lane detection, you can often also have the added expense of requiring a recalibration of your forward-facing camera after a full replacement. A recalibration is not required for a chip repair.

Contact O'Brien^® for your chip repair or windscreen replacement today.

So, which is better? Repair or replace? Firstly, it depends on the circumstances. If your windscreen can be repaired, we believe there are 3 compelling reasons to choose a repair over a replacement. Our preference is always to repair if we can.

Whatever the outcome, our expert team at O'Brien^® are here to help in both situations so you cave driveway with confidence.

To get in touch, call 1800 059 829 to speak with one of our friendly team. Or to find the nearest O'Brien^® AutoGlass branch, click here.

The post Repairing VS. Replacing Your Windscreen: Which Is The Better Option? appeared first on O'Brien.

Unfortunately, however, most of the accidents we see on our roads nowadays are due to human factors often referred to as “human errors”.

The automotive industry is working tirelessly to build innovative new technology that integrates several safety-enhanced features into new cars, known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

ADAS technology works by alerting the driver to potential hazards on the road, and in some cases, it can even take control of the vehicle if necessary. Through a complex system of cameras, sensors, radars and onboard computers, these systems are designed to supplement driver capabilities or correct driver error and help to reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities on our roads.

In a previous article, we discussed the importance of ADAS, as well as some of the more common safety features found in these systems.

Now, we’ll outline why the recalibration of your car’s ADAS cameras is important to help maintain high levels of safety and performance.

What is ADAS recalibration?

Many car safety systems rely on properly calibrated cameras. ADAS recalibration is the process of checking the alignment of these cameras so these safety features can be trusted and relied upon.

At O'Brien^®, we believe the safest option is to recalibrate the forward-facing camera(s) if the manufacturer requires at the same time your windscreen is replaced.

A camera recalibration process requires specialised tools and equipment and should be carried out by trained technicians with the necessary skills to use this equipment.

The diagram below shows just some of the key features of ADAS technology, highlighting the need to ensure that each feature is working as the manufacturer intended.

When is ADAS recalibration necessary?

While it’s safe to suggest that most vehicle repairs after an accident would require the cameras and sensors to be recalibrated, there are also several other instances where recalibration is necessary that most vehicle owners overlook.

As an example, according to many manufacturer guidelines, any of the following events can potentially misalign a vehicles’ ADAS and require recalibration of the camera:

windscreen replacements

tyre changes or wheel alignments

disconnection or partial removal of cameras from their mounting

some technical repairs

Failure to recalibrate a vehicle’s camera means that the ADAS safety features may not be able to be relied upon. You could experience false warnings and alerts, distances could be misjudged and steering pull to name a few.

As you can see, it’s extremely important to ensure that you don’t overlook the recalibration process in these instances where recommended by the manufacturer for your vehicle.

O'Brien Cal-Tech^® Recalibration solution

Unique to O'Brien^®, our Cal-Tech^® ADAS Recalibration service is state-of-the-art. We recalibrate your vehicle’s forward-facing camera systems, so you can continue to rely on safety features such as auto-braking and lane detection.

The O'Brien^® Cal-Tech^® solution is supported by Bosch, updated frequently and performed by our in-house technicians who have undertaken quality technical training programmes.

On completion of the recalibration, you will receive a Cal-Tech^® Recalibration certificate so you can drive away with confidence.

See our video explainer on what to expect if your car requires an ADAS recalibration at O'Brien^®.

Making it easy at O'Brien^® AutoGlass

If your vehicle has a cracked windscreen and is fitted with ADAS technology, then O'Brien^® can perform both the windscreen replacement and the Cal-Tech^® recalibration at the same time.

So when you next need your windscreen replaced, think of O'Brien^® Cal-Tech^® and our team of expert technicians.

To speak to one of our friendly team to learn more about our ADAS service, call 1800 059 829 or click here to book online and one of our friendly experts be back in touch with you soon.

The post Enhancing Safety With O’Brien Cal-Tech® ADAS Recalibration appeared first on O'Brien.

If not properly addressed, a small chip can become a big problem, leading to needing to replace the entire windscreen.

Fortunately, knowing how to effectively protect your windscreen can help you avoid all of this in the first place. As cliché as it sounds: prevention is better than cure!

So, our team at O'Brien^® AutoGlass has compiled some useful tips to help you take care of your windscreen.

Tips to protect your windscreen

Here are some tips to look after your windscreen, to help spare you the stress, hassle and costs of repair or replacement:

1. Park your car in a garage or covered area.

Keeping your car out of direct sunlight, heavy rain, hail, and even ice is always a smart idea. If there’s no covered space to park your car, you can look for a shaded area that also offers some shelter.

2. Gradually adjust your car’s internal temperature.

Sudden variations in temperature from inside and out can place stress on your windscreen.

So, to avoid a rapid temperature shift, do not put your car’s air conditioning or heater on an extreme setting straight away. This is important, particularly if the air conditioning or heater is pointed directly at the windscreen.

Instead, just gradually increase or decrease the temperature.

3. Avoid slamming car doors.

It’s not just about the noise it makes.

Extreme vibrations and bumps can add to the stress that already exists at the point of a chip in your windscreen, which could result in a crack appearing.

4. Take care of your windscreen wipers.

Don’t take your wipers for granted. They’re there for a good reason!

To ensure your wiper blades continue to keep dust, dirt, water, insects and more off your windscreen, remember to regularly check to see if they are clean and in good condition.

At O'Brien^®, to help you get the most out of your windscreen, we’ve put together a comprehensive checklist to help you choose the right wiper blades as well as how to care for them. Check it out here: Enhance Your View with Wiper Blades.

5. Clean your windscreen properly.

When it comes to cleaning your windscreen, don’t leave everything solely to your windscreen wipers – they are not designed to do all the cleaning.

Using a bit of elbow grease, clean cloth and some glass cleaner, on top of regularly removing debris on and around the windscreen and wipers will help keep your windscreen clear and allow your wiper blades to do what they need to do. Read our Expert guide to cleaning your windscreen here – there are some handy tips (for the most seasoned of car cleaners)!

6. Repair chips in the windscreen as soon as possible.

A chip can easily turn into a crack if not fixed immediately, especially if your car is exposed to extreme temperatures as well as bumps and vibrations from the road.

Our skilled technicians at O'Brien^® AutoGlass can repair a windscreen chip if:

• it’s smaller than an Australian $1 coin,
• it’s located on the passenger side
• and it’s at least 5cm from the edge of the windscreen.

It takes only 30 minutes to repair a chip in your windscreen, and with car insurance, the chip repair may be free.

To learn more about whether your chip can be repaired, and what’s involved, read here.

Got a chip or a crack in your windscreen?

If you are worried about a chipped or cracked windscreen, it’s time to contact your local O'Brien^® experts. Don’t delay!

Our specialist technicians can assist you whether you need a windscreen chip repair or a full windscreen replacement. No matter what make or model your car is, you can always depend on us and drive away knowing that the job has been done right.

For more information about our chip repairs and windscreen replacement services, click here.

If you have any questions, you can also call us on 1800 059 829 or book online.

The post 6 Tips To Protect Your Vehicle’s Windscreen appeared first on O'Brien.

We caught up with her to see how she is, from being recognised by strangers plus what she’s been doing for customers day to day.

Nat, it has been a while since we last spoke. What have you been up to over these last few months?

Hey!

My gosh, I’ve been super busy. The good kind of busy though!

Since we last chatted, I have become part of the O'Brien^® Flying Squad, and so far, I’ve travelled to Sydney and Canberra to assist other Branches with their auto jobs. It has been a great experience meeting new Team Members from other branches plus I feel like I am helping others (and making a difference to both customers and the O'Brien^® local branch team). It’s such a collaborative effort to get through the jobs together and I love that sense of teamwork.

I have also been officially signed off and hold my Cert III Qualification in Automotive Glazing! Since starting with O'Brien^®, I have been working really hard and learning so much, so it’s a great accomplishment and nice to feel recognised for the effort I have been putting in.

What’s the O'Brien^® Flying Squad? It’s an O'Brien^® program that helps allocate technician resources to ‘Fly-in’ to branches that need extra support in peak times, to ensure continued service levels to our customers. Flying Squad Technicians not only get to work in different locations with other branch teams across our network, but they earn additional incentives for their extra work as well as pick up valued experience in their roles.

What new skills have you learnt and what training have you had?

One of my long-term goals here at O'Brien^® is to be a Branch Manager. So, I have been working closely with my Manager to learn more about the admin side of the business. This has given me a better understanding of what happens behind the scenes, like stock, inventory and closing jobs. I aim to learn more and more and build up toward taking on a manager position in the future.

One of the many great things about working at O'Brien^® is that we are learning something new every day. Technology is constantly updating, so in my role, we need to stay up to date with everything to do our job. It’s continually challenging – which is what I love.

So, you’ve starred in a couple of TV ads across the country. Have you been recognised?

One time when I was working in Sydney, a young boy was staring at me. His grandma said “He has seen you in the ad! He idolises you!” and that he was completely starstruck! We took a photo together so he could send it to his Dad. It was very cute!

It’s a bit strange being recognised as I am just a normal person. Yet to others, it’s very Wow. When I’m at work, customers are very impressed that O'Brien^® uses real team members in their ads, so that’s a great feeling.

One time a lady came in and asked for the service that ‘the lady did in the ad’, then realised I was that lady! Then, of course, I did the job!

My family and friends are proud – they send me a notification every time they see me on TV! So, I always know when the commercials are being shown.

Your personal O'Brien^® story is driving a lot of new job applicants – many of which are female – to join your company – which is amazing! How does that make you feel?

One of the reasons I was so excited about being part of the ad campaign was that I could show other females what I’m doing in my job and that they can do it, too! So, it’s great that this is being achieved.

When I was working in Canberra recently, there were several female trainees who had just joined the team, and they recognised me from the ad. A lot of them said that they joined O'Brien^® because of seeing me in the campaign.

Although I don’t actively think about it a lot, when you hear these kinds of things, it’s such a great feeling that I am making a difference to everyday people (and to our company).

What message do you want to give those thinking about joining O'Brien^®?

Just do it!

Give it a go and if you put the effort in, you can go far! There are so many good things about this job – you’re constantly learning, it’s a great team, you can work in the branch or out on the road, and so much more!

Keen to start a career at O'Brien^®? Start your journey and apply today.

To read more about O'Brien^® and career progression opportunities, check out our blog.

Just in case you’ve not yet seen Nat in our latest O'Brien^® commercials – check them out here.

O'Brien^® Recruitment Come work with Us Ad

O'Brien^® Compilation Chip Repair Ad

O'Brien^® Holiday Windscreen Replacement Ad

The post Chat With Nat: The Real-Life Auto Tech You See On TV appeared first on O'Brien.

While these little chips may seem insignificant at first, they can easily turn from a chip to a crack with no warning at all.

In a recent O'Brien^® Consumer Research study, from December 2021, where respondents were those that had had windscreen damage, the study revealed that almost half of respondents mentioned the crack in their windscreen started as a chip from that same location. This suggests that they knew the chip was there but didn’t get around to doing anything about it until it became a bigger problem by turning into a crack.

Here at O'Brien^®, we always recommend repairing a windscreen chip over replacing the entire windscreen, but this relies on driver being proactive about getting their windscreen chip repaired early before it cracks.

That is why today, we’re going to outline exactly why you should look to get your windscreen chip repaired before it’s too late.

But first, what typically causes a chip in your windscreen?

Windscreen chips can be caused by several factors, the most common we hear about is loose gravel, stones, or debris on the surface of the road that flicks up from underneath the tyres of other vehicles and hit and chip the windscreen glass.

While a small chip may not seem like a big deal at first, all it could take is hitting a pothole or a bump in the road, or a sudden variation in temperature inside or outside your vehicle to cause the chip to become a large crack and a bigger hassle for you.

The benefits of repairing a chip vs replacing your windscreen

A windscreen chip may crack at any time, which can be a major hassle. Here are our top 3 reasons why it is better to get your windscreen chip repaired before it turns into a crack.

1. It’s faster

Repairing a chip in your windscreen chip typically takes thirty minutes compared to the 90 minutes it takes for O'Brien^® to replace your windscreen. You can drive your car immediately after the repair is complete. So, we’ll have you back on the road fast.

2. It’s cheaper

Not only is it a quicker process to repair your windscreen vs replacing it with a new one, but it’s cheaper as well. Our expert technicians use our Advanced Repair Technology (ART) System to repair the chip in your existing windscreen. As your windscreen remains in place, the cost is much less than removing and replacing a new windscreen in your vehicle.

3. It’s greener

A chip repair is much more environmentally friendly as well, as there is no need to remove the old windscreen. Your existing windscreen remains in place while the chip is repaired. The repair process will strengthen your windscreen where the chip occurred and prevent the chip from cracking at that point. At O'Brien^®, that’s why we always prefer to repair first where possible.

4. With car insurance the chip repair may be FREE

Some insurance providers include windscreen chip repair in their policies, meaning it may not cost you a thing to get your windscreen repaired. So, check with your insurance provider if this applies to you.

In the case of windscreen replacements, however, some insurance providers may require an excess, unless you pay an additional amount on your premium to buy out this excess. Even if your policy requires an excess for a windscreen replacement, then O'Brien^® can help you with the insurance claim process. We act on behalf of many of the leading insurance providers and can help manage this process for you.

5. If your car has ADAS technology, such as auto braking and lane detection, replacing your windscreen could cost you more

If you’ve got a newer vehicle, chances are that it’s fitted with an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). In other words, it is vehicle camera technology that looks through your windscreen to identify and alert you to such things as objects and markings on the road to help keep you and your occupants safe while driving.

When a new windscreen is replaced on a vehicle with ADAS, the front-facing camera usually requires recalibrating. O'Brien^® believes the safest thing to do is recalibrate where required by the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the correct operation of the vehicle’s ADAS safety features. This is so important because if the camera is out of alignment by even a few millimetres it could mean the ADAS does not work as intended and could possibly increase the chances of a collision.

This extra step in the windscreen replacement process might cost more and take more time but it is important. If you have the chance to repair your chip before it cracks, then this process could be avoided.

O'Brien^® can repair your windscreen chip in just 30 minutes

Using our exclusive ART (Advanced Repair Technology) System and specially formulated resin (our best ever!), our expert technician will repair your chip in just 30 minutes, so you’re back on the road fast. For a step by step on what happens when we repair a chip, view our video here.

With hundreds of locations around Australia, you can choose to visit one of our O'Brien^® AutoGlass branches or choose our mobile service – whichever is more convenient for your chip repair.

So, if you’ve got a chip in your vehicle’s windscreen, don’t leave it until it’s too late.

Contact our friendly team of windscreen experts at O'Brien^® AutoGlass on 1800 059 829 or book online today

The post Repair That Chip Before It’s Too Late appeared first on O'Brien.