The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the National Street Rod Association and/or StreetScene Magazine. Safety Inspection Reminder #14 Glass and Windshields
T he evolution of auto glass, including windshields is a fas- cinating chapter in automo- tive development, reflecting advancements in safety, technology and design. Initially mere windows to the world outside, windshields have transformed into critical com- ponents that contribute significantly to the structural integrity and safety of modern vehicles. Today, they are designed to protect passengers from debris, reduce injuries during accidents, and enhance the overall aesthetics and aerodynamics of vehicles. It wasn’t until 1904 when windshields were first introduced to automobiles, 10 years after the first car was produced. The first wind- shields were nothing more than
specially designed to bend under pressure and not shatter easily and to reduce UV rays, critical when driving on a sunny day. Tempered glass is similar, but is slightly stronger and shatters differently. It was designed to break into small pieces to reduce the risk of injury in an accident. It wasn’t until 1966 that the US government finally start- ed setting regulations for vehicles. The Highway Safety Federal Act of 1966 made shatter-resistant wind- shields mandatory. In crash testing, windshields are crucial for evaluat- ing a vehicle’s safety performance. They are integral to maintaining the cabin structure during front and rollover crashes, helping to prevent roof collapse and keeping passen- gers safe. Here on the Safety Team, we check to make sure that the wind- shield is AS-2 safety plate and if there are no identification markings we use an object such as a pencil to check for a double image (ask your Safety Inspector to explain). We look to make sure there are no cracks interfering with the driver’s vision or allow one piece of glass to be removed from two-piece wind- shields. We do not want to see cracks, exposed sharp edges, or stone chips larger than 1-inch in diameter. All other openings designed for glass must have Lexon or tempered glass installed unless the vehicle is modified to eliminate window openings. Plexiglass is not allowed. Window and glass tech- nology in vehicles has come a long way since they were invented. Windshields, especially, are a con- stant focus of inventors and entre- preneurs with on-going efforts to produce smart windshields and thermally flexible glass. Carol Barnhill Arkansas State Safety Inspector
two pieces of glass made out of the same material as house windows and were composed of two panes, a top section, and a lower section. Also, early glass was prone to shat- tering upon impact, creating dan- gerous shards that posed significant risks to passengers. The need for safer and more reliable windshields drove rapid advancement in auto- motive glass technology aimed at improving both visibility and safety for all vehicle occupants. By the ‘20s the real game chang- er for vehicle safety was the inven- tion of the laminated and tempered glass. Laminated glass was for the windshields and tempered glass was primarily used for the side and rear windows. Laminated glass was
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