The Importance of Your Windshield

A windshield is probably not a thing many people think of when buying a car. Some focus on performance, some on the looks, and some on safety of the car being purchased. But why is the windshield worth talking about?

• Protection

The very first thing on your mind right now is probably protection. Windshield got its name thanks to the purpose it was invented for. It is a shield, as the name says, that protects us from rain, wind, bugs and other debris we encounter on our road such as dust and rocks. You’d admit it wasn’t much fun riding with goggles and spitting the flying insects every few minutes, while losing your hearing after a ride or two. Beside this, you would guess it wasn’t fun riding in cold weather either. Windshield is a glass sandwich, with a layer of polyvinyl in between. With the silicon connecting it to rest of the car, it is a great isolation and water resistant.

• Flexibility sandwich

This “glass-polyvinyl sandwich” of yours has one more purpose, which is of high importance for the safety in a car. If an accident occurs, glass might break, but the polyvinyl is flexible and it will cushion the impact. In the beginning windshields were made of window glass, but over the years and many accidents later, they realized this is not a good idea. Many experiments later, they have found the optimal combination which increases safety level of the passengers in the car.

• Damaged windshield

Windshields can be damaged by pebbles and rocks if you are driving too fast off road, or by tree branches. Often happens that people leave their cars parked under old trees, and after the storm they walk out to find their windshield cracked. Try to avoid these situations and save yourself hundreds of dollars. Important thing to mention is windshields cannot be repaired. If cracks are longer than 18 inches, or they are edge cracks, you will have to replace the windshield completely.

• Forget the DIY replacement

Many of us are big fans of DIY repairs. I agree, its money-saving, it is time-saving and you trust yourself the most. Save DIY’s for some gardening or household decoration, because replacing a windshield is no job for an unprofessional. Proper removal is a must. If the windshield is removed improperly, it is a danger for passengers. Windshields support the roof, and in the case of an accident, if the windshield is not properly placed and glued, it won’t be supportive enough and the roof will be as made of glass, in a bad way. If rollover occurs, the roof will crush passengers in no time. So don’t think twice on this one and get your windshield replaced by the people who know how to do it.

Another thing that can happen due to an improperly installed windshield is affecting airbags on the side of your car. If not installed properly, airbags will not deploy right. In other words, safety of your car becomes a danger for you.

• Why?

The car industry is developing fast, as well as science, society and our needs. Windshields have special UV layers now, to protect us from radiation or they can be tinted, to protect us from the sun and therefore increase our visibility.

One way or another, you cannot deny the importance of your windshield, and now you know why.