5 Fun Facts About Vehicle Glass 

The very first thing you noticed when you ⁹see a car is its color, then maybe the brand, the style, or the year, we do not pay much attention to the glass. The most overlooked crucial part of a car is the glass, and auto glass alongside it keeping bugs out of the driver’s face also plays a major role in the safety of passengers during crashes. Moreover, with an exclusive history of research and development auto glass continues to evolve every year. Here are some fun facts about auto glass you probably do not know.

Surprising Facts About Vehicle Glass

#1 Windshields started as a Luxury Item 

In the early 1900s, when the first automobiles started rolling out, windshields were not standard. It was an additional item made up of a thin sheet of glass added to vehicles, and those vehicles were more expensive that they could only be purchased by wealthy men. Windshield was optional and could even be folded down whenever it got dirty, so you could say that the early cars were open to elements, which left drivers exposed to bad weather. Windshields starting as a luxury, couldn't make many car owners opt-in for them, so leaving them to deal with high winds as they drove.



At a point manufacturers started adding windshield to their cars when they began to produce a large number of cars, they considered it as a feature to give a more comfortable ride, so they didn't see the need of making it a standard feature. However,  the narrative changed quickly when Oldsmobile started adding windshields to all their vehicles in 1915, making it a standard vehicle feature. 

#2 The invention of Shatterproof Glass was an accident

Shatterproof glass was invented when a French chemist named Edouard Benedictus mistakenly dropped a glass flask covered in cellulose nitrate. Though he noticed that the glass did not shatter, he did not patent this technology for automobiles until 1909. Subsequently, laminated shatterproof glass was proved to improve the safety of vehicles, so it was adopted into the eyepieces of gas masks during World War l.

#3 Windshields are best for insurance claims

One of the most common reasons for automotive insurance claims in the United State is broken or damaged windshields. They are responsible for almost 30% of all auto insurance claims. Windshield damage could range from storm damage to cracks, chips, and accidents. Although, only a few of these claims comes from road accidents. Many insurance companies will cover the cost of repairs or replacements of windshields because it provides a significant level of safety for a vehicle. 

#4 Windshield Wiper was an idea of a Woman

Many inventors had tried inventing a device that can be used in cleaning windshield in case of falling snow and other obstructions. An American inventor Mary Anderson took credit for creating the Wiper blades. She was awarded for this in 1903 and she called it a window cleaning device. In 1923, Raymond Anderson was the first to create intermittent wipers with variable frequency and speed. These wipers are often used in clearing falling snows. 

#5 Auto (laminated) glass rarely shatters

Unlike the way to see auto glass shatter in movies easily, auto glass Rarely Shatters in real life. Almost all windshields are made of laminated glass, which is made of two separate independent glass panes with a clear plastic coating in-between them. During an accident or storm windshields do not shatter easily because of the intermediate layer holding them together.  So, the plastic intermediary layer prevents it from shattering into pieces. This reduces the risk of cuts or serious injury from exposure to broken glass, the reason why laminated glass is a standard safety feature in modern cars. Unlike laminated glass standard window glass was used in the early cars, although, after a series of crashes it was replaced with harder glass in the twentieth century.

Also, tempered glass which undergoes rapid heating,  heated to a temperature of more than 1000°F during its tempering process is durable and five times stronger than traditional glass. Tempered glass resists bending and breaking due to the tension created its pane center. Morever, tempered glass reduces the risk of injuries when broken, instead of breaking into jagged shards, this safety glass breaks into small pebble sized pieces. 

Additional Fun Facts

You have 5 interesting facts about auto glass above, let's see what else we can't avoid you missing.

#1 Auto Airbag is Windshield screen dependent

Auto airbags depend on automotive glass to function, it assists to position the airbag properly upon impact. Passenger airbags usually deploy upwards when they expand, and they bounce off of the windshield to end up in the proper position.

#2 Glass is Improving 

Throughout the ages, auto glass keeps improving, from adding UV filters and having tinted windshields to protect interiors and intense UV rays, to creating easily fixed small cracks with resin. Auto manufacturers realize that auto glass is an important component of vehicles, future dream smart cars are now a reality with auto glass not left out. However,  technology is advancing, so windshields could adopt digital information like maps and directions for drivers and mobile services to easily reference while driving.

#3 Your Roof is supported by the tempered glass in Windshields

For vehicles roof support windshields are important, as a broad windscreen will keep the roof in place during a rollover accident. The roof may collapse if its structural integrity is compromised, causing severe injury for everyone inside the car. A major reason why your windshield needs to be replaced if there is any trace of too many cracks and chips to repair. 

Conclusion

There you have it, 5 fun facts about auto glass that you didn't know. We hope that this article has enlightened you on the importance of auto glass and why it should be regularly maintained. Remember to always put safety first when driving!

About Fairfield AutoGlass

Windshield damage can be a safety hazard. Fairfield AutoGlass can repair your windshield quickly and safely. We use only the highest quality materials, so you can be sure your windshield will be repaired properly. We know it's important to you to get your car back on the road as soon as possible. That's why we offer same-day service in most cases. We want to help you get back to your life as quickly as possible. Contact us today for a free estimate on repairing or replacing your windshield!