Often taken for granted, the role that your windscreen plays within the packaging of your vehicle has never been more significant. We explore its evolution, as well as why this sheet of glass is so important.
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As highlighted by our defensive driving course feature in the May issue, when it comes to significantly increasing the odds of arriving safely at your destination it’s crucial to have a clear line of sight from your driver’s seat to the road ahead. While racing drivers rely on a clean visor for maximum focus while on track, the windscreen of your car not only protects you from the elements, but also has an important role to play when it comes to situational awareness while driving.
Single ply
During the transition from horse-drawn carriage to the automobile, as the average speed of personal transportation steadily increased, so too did the need to establish a form of protection against the elements more viable than a pair of goggles and a head scarf. The first windscreen was little more than a flat sheet of house glazing, though the ability to fold it away while on the move proved to be a vital step in the evolution of defensive driving.
Of course, with such rudimentary technology being used as a shield against the elements, and in the absence of seatbelts, this sheet of glass placed ahead of the driver all-to-easily became a potentially deadly hazard in the event of an accident or significant contact with road-borne debris.
Two-ply
One solution aimed at preventing potential injury was the adoption of laminated glass for windscreens – something that Henry Ford was particularly keen to explore considering the volume of vehicles he was producing in the early 1930s, as well as the associated costs of glass. Early laminated windscreen technology saw two thinner sheets of glass sandwiched together via a layer of plastic. The result was a windscreen that generally stayed intact – as opposed to shattering – in the event of an accident.
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In its modern application, this transparent bonding application is known as polyvinyl butyral (PVB). By the early 50s, the windscreen had become an integral part of many car designs. From the so-called Bubble car to early Corvettes, and even the VW Beetle, the shape and profile of the glass house became incorporated into the character of the car. At this time, more curved wraparound windscreens also introduced a vastly improved field of vision for the driver.
The modern windscreen
Offering far more than just protection against the elements, in many cases the modern windscreen forms an integral part of a car’s construction, often adding structural rigidity while combining with modern safety systems such as airbags. While the integration of a radio antenna or incorporation of heating elements for defrosting was considered novel, the evolution of the windscreen shows no sign of slowing.
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In its earliest application, a head-up display offered a basic projection of driving instrumentation onto the windscreen so that it fell within the driver’s line of sight. This technology has evolved to include live graphics, active warning systems, and even navigation details.
The move towards autonomous driving and its associated technologies has meant any number of forward-facing cameras and sensors now need to be housed within the makeup of the windscreen housing. This, in turn, means that should your windscreen need to be replaced, an established and trusted workshop needs to know how to do so without affecting the accuracy of these systems – or be able to recalibrate each.
What’s next?
It would need to be scrutinised in terms of safety, but imagine if your windscreen featured live integrated virtual reality that could actively suggest a more favourable route home, label each store on road you pass by, or display a 3D jukebox featuring your preferred audio playlist?
Also in development is smart glass technology that can change the tint of the windscreen according to the prevalent levels of glare, as well as self-healing technology capable of seamlessly repairing small-scale damage while on the move.
How to look after your windscreen
A semi-regular inspection of your car’s windscreen will reveal whether any damage, even minor, has been incurred. While broadly unavoidable in most driving conditions, keep in mind that smaller chips caused by stones or other debris can and should be repaired as soon as possible. This will maintain both the integrity of your windscreen (while preventing further damage) and ensure that your vision through this sheet of glass remains unimpaired.
It’s not always possible, but be aware of where you park your vehicle, during the day and at night. The African sun is unforgiving on most materials, including your car’s glazing. Conversely, regular exposure to temperatures nearing freezing can also damage your car’s windscreen over time. Oh, and then there’s the highveld hailstorms…
It’s advisable to check and maintain the condition of your windscreen wipers. Apart from providing crucial clarity in wet conditions, a perished wiper blade could allow the metal element within to scratch or damage the glass.
Generally covered by insurance, it’s interesting to look back to when this magazine first began publishing the replacement cost of a windscreen for each respective test car. While there was one anomaly in the previous issue of CAR (the screen on the Ineos Grenadier will cost you an unfathomable R36 025), the average cost of a replacement windscreen for the three other cars tested in the May issue was R12 500, in the April issue it was R8 378.
