Breezing on down the road in your vehicle, the one thing that is most important to your safety on the roadway is your ability to see in just about every direction. This is why there are so many rules and regulations when it comes to your windshield and visibility obstructions. In fact, there are often more rules and regulations than what most people realize. Before you climb in a vehicle that does not offer you a good view of the roadway, for whatever reason, you may want to take some time to consider the laws that are in place in some states across the country.

Cracks or Damage

There is a big difference between a tiny ding and a huge crack that spans across your entire windshield and could compromise your field of view. Some states actually have laws in place that can make it a possibility that you can be pulled over if a damaged windshield is bad enough that an officer feels it will be a danger.

For example, if you have a large series of cracks on the driver's side. You can be fined and even forced to take your car off the road until obtaining a windshield replacement. Every state has different laws when it comes to damaged windshields. Therefore, you should check with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles for specific laws.

GPS Equipment

If you are a frequent road traveler, there is a good chance that you have a reliable GPS system mounted in your car. Unfortunately, even mounting the GPS in the wrong way could land you an ugly fine in some states. In fact, more than half of the states in the country have laws surrounding how GPS systems can be mounted in a car. Most state that windshield mounting is considered an obstruction. However, a dash mounted GPS is usually not a problem.

Rearview Mirror Hangers

You may be able to buy them in stores or even when you stop in for a fill up at the local gas station, but those air fresheners and other items you adorn your rearview mirror with are actually illegal in some parts of the country. For example, Virginia has a law that states it is illegal for anything to be suspended on the windshield other than the rearview mirror and sun visors, and anything that is obstructing view should be removed. So in some areas, you might want to skip the fuzzy dice, Mardi Gras beads, or anything else that is not supposed to be suspended from your rearview mirror.

The windshield of your car is your window to the road when you travel on the highway and one of the first points of safety. Make sure you familiarize yourself with what is legally allowed anytime you are a driver, and use your best judgement about what would be considered to be an obstruction of visibility.