Automotive windshields are large pieces of safety glass that are installed on different forms of vehicles. They come equipped on cars, buses, planes and even some motorcycles. The glass used is usually lamented. This means the glass was treated with two sheets of curved glass separated by a sheet of plastic before it was glued and sealed down to a window frame.

Windshields were created to protect automobile occupants from environmental elements. It has been used to shelter people from both snow and rain. It also protect occupants from the wind and debris that may be in the air. It is effective in keeping out harmful ultraviolet rays since many vehicles come equipped with a special coating of UV. It is similar to the coating used on standard sunglasses with or without the tint.

When the original car was created, windshields were created out of pure glass. When the glass is not lamented, it can cause a severe risk to passengers in the event of an accident. It was not until a series of incidents that glass windows were replaced with a material much stronger and safer. With a tougher glass, it would shatter into harmless little pieces in the event of an accident. This would cause far less damage to drivers and passengers.

The first lamented windshield was first created in France. It used a cellulose middle layer instead of conventional plastic. The cellulose layer was very effective in holding the two layers of glass together when an accident occurred. It was not until many years later that plastic became a better alternative. The purpose was to ensure that windshields will not break when an accident occurred.

Having windshields on motorcycles is becoming more popular today as people are becoming more socially aware and responsible. A typical windshield is large enough to protect both a person's face and torso from carelessly discarded cigarettes. The discarded cigarettes has been a constant problem for bike riders that have to deal with burns and ashes left behind. It can also protect against other air and wind borne elements and debris.

Before, a bike rider had to look over his/her windshield because it did not provide enough clarity. That has all changed and manufactures have created better windshields with better material. Now a good windshield can redirect noise, airflow and low-pressure turbulence. This makes a motorcycle ride more enjoyable and safer since riders reduce the chance of suffering from wind fatigue.

Polycarbonate windshields are currently a new and better material available for automobile owners. Makers of the innovative product have tested it to ensure customers with the best material available that is both chemical and impact resistant. It has been tested under the pressures of steel wool to guarantee the effectiveness in protection and resistance. Optical clarity is also many times better than original lamented glass shields. It is currently only approved in the motorcycle industry but people can still obtain the replacement for other forms of vehicles since it is in compliance with state requirements.

Laminated polycarbonate windshields are made differently from commercial ones more readily available. The layers include a flexible polymer substrate rather than plastic. A chemical and scratch resistant coating is applied with a special adhesive in between two layers of polycarbonate sheets. Each layer is then treated to become transparent for people's safety.

Another option that people have is the use of tinted windows to protect from sun glare. The law places heavy restrictions on the use of heavily tinted glass windows. There is a maximum level of tint permitted and exceeding that limit can lead to multiple consequences other than being fined. If necessary for sun glare protection, drivers should consider having the uppermost part of their window more noticeably tinted.

Thermal glass has also been used in the past. This was a popular option before the invention of navigational systems. As of now, thermal glass can potential prevent many navigational systems from working because the metal embedded into the glass blocks the signal communication between a satellite and the device. People that have thermal glass can decide to buy an external antenna for their device to resolve this particular issue.

Automotive windshields have come a long way in history. They have evolved and changed to adapt to the needs of people overtime. People can obtain greater benefits if they properly accommodate their vehicles to adapt to their particular needs. Custom and special applications can be done to automobiles as long as they do not violate the law or the maximum restrictions.