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Like most things that are commonplace in modern times, chances are, you probably don’t often think about the object you spend ten percent of your life staring right through — your car’s windshield. The glass experts here at Jet Black Tint and Glass, on the other hand, spend a considerable amount of time thinking about your windshield and are chock-full of windshield facts the common driver probably doesn’t know. Today, we’ll share some of these fun facts with you. Some are useful and some are simply entertaining — let’s dive in!
When the first privately-owned vehicles started rolling out in the early 1900s, windshields were not a standard feature. In fact, they were add-on items that had to be requested. The first windshields consisted of little more than a thin sheet of glass that could be folded down when it got too dirty to see through. Windshield add-ons increased the cost of a vehicle, and only the most wealthy owners could afford them. Over the following decade, windshields became accepted as a vital safety feature, improving a driver’s vision and protecting both driver and passengers from insects and debris. Windshields became standard features in 1915 and the automobile industry was forever changed.
In the early 1900s, French chemist Edouard Benedictus accidently dropped his glass flask that had been coated in cellulose nitrate. To his surprise, the glass didn’t shatter and its contents remained viable. Laminated glass, as it turned out, held many practical applications where durability was important. The laminated glass would eventually be patented for vehicle windows by the nineteen-teens and has evolved into the protective glass on vehicles today.
All modern vehicles are equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) — the airbag system. Your windshield plays a critical role in the proper deployment of the vehicle’s airbags, relying on the windshield for the airbags to “bounce off” to inflate back toward the passengers. If the glass is broken, the force of the airbag deployment could cause the windshield to completely break. If that occurs, the airbags won’t deploy properly, putting your safety at risk.
Windshield issues are the second most common auto insurance claims, right behind minor accidents and fender benders. These numbers are striking considering that only about half of car insurance policies even include windshield repair or replacement coverage. Hail, rocks, and other damage that causes cracks and chips to the windshield can be dangerous and require repair. Due to the cost of new windshields, policyholders consult their insurance companies before booking their windshield replacement service.
If you’ve got auto insurance, navigating how to make a claim and get the policy to cover your costs can be a chore in itself. Here are Jet Black Tint and Glass in Central California, our team can help! We’ll work with your insurance company to ensure the least out-of-pocket cost to you.
Have you seen the commercials or test driven a 2022 luxury car? Chances are one of the most captivating features is the heads-up display (HUD) system that projects information into the smart glass of the vehicle to help reduce distracted driving and optimize feedback between the driver and their vehicle. These HUD systems are fully integrated into the car’s safety and mechanical systems, sending information about the state of the vehicle as well as sensing vehicles and road conditions around the car.
Mary Anderson, a practical woman with places to go, noticed how impractical it was for trolley car drivers to continue to hop out and manually brush away snow or debris from the large windows every time something obstructed their vision. Anderson’s distant family member had shared an idea for a simple, yet effective tool that would do the wiping for the driver with a simple pull of a cord. Anderson was awarded a patent in 1903 for her “window cleaning device,” but things didn’t progress much further initially because she had no living father, no husband, and no son. Since the world at that time was male-dominated, it would take another two decades before windshield wipers became important safety devices. Raymond Anderson built upon the initial idea and added speed control in 1923.
The small black dots along the edge of your windshield are the frit of the trim and were initially used to soften the stark change of color where the windshield bonds to the frame of the vehicle. The frit is baked directly into the glass itself and helps the glass adhere securely to the vehicle’s frame. The outer-facing side of those black dots provides a shield from UV radiation, which helps protect your dash from fading and cracking.
In the same way that laminated glass is safer than untreated glass, tinted glass is even safer. Window tint on a vehicle offers several benefits beyond aesthetics, most of which is safety. Tint helps reduce glare and allows drivers to safely see through the windows. If a car window does break, tint can help keep the glass from shattering. It is important to note that fully tinted windshields are illegal in all 50 states, the top strip can be tinted for safety and transparent tint is available for side and rear windows.
Windshields play an important role in holding the roof of your vehicle in place, especially in a rollover situation. Without windshields reinforcing the overall structure of the vehicle, the roof could potentially collapse. If a windshield is cracked or broken, or a cheap aftermarket windshield is installed, it compromises the integrity of the entire vehicle and can lead to serious injury and even death. To ensure your windshield is providing the support it should be, it’s important to get your broken windshield repaired or replaced as soon as possible by qualified glass technicians that guarantee their work.
If your windshield is cracked or broken, stop putting off repairs and drop by your Central California glass shop to have it repaired. Jet Black Tint and Glass has 13 current locations and can offer next-day appointments in most cases. Book your windshield replacement appointment today!