The windshield, also known as the windshield, is a fantastic invention that makes driving much more convenient and safe. Before the invention of the windshield, people who drove cars had to wear goggles to protect their eyes from the weather and other elements. 

The windshield is an integral part of your car, so it makes sense that there are a few things you might not know about it.

Some key details you probably didn’t know about this car component are highlighted below.

1. Windshields Were Initially an Optional Luxury Item:

Windshields were not standard equipment in early automobiles. They were add-ons. People in cars wore goggles and scarves to protect themselves from the weather. Windshields were once considered a luxury item. To have a windshield installed on your car, you had to place an additional order for it, which was usually quite expensive. Only the wealthy could afford to have them installed in their vehicles.

2. The Windshield Wiper Was Developed by a Woman:

Mary Anderson, an American housewife, came up with the idea for the windshield wiper in 1903. She got the idea for the windshield wiper after seeing a trolley car struggle to remove snow from its windshield. To her credit, she was awarded the patent for the windshield wiper.

Some automobiles include the windshield as an integral component of the airbag system. The windshield is built into some cars as part of the airbag system. If there is a problem with your windshield, it is possible that the problem is caused by your airbag not being deployed correctly, or vice versa.

3. Roof Stability Is Ensured by Windshields:

A car’s windshield is one of the components that helps keep the roof of the vehicle in place. If there weren’t any windshields, the roof of the car would cave in, which would put everyone inside at risk of injury. Windshields protect the people inside the car in case of an accident. If the roof had fallen on them, they would have been seriously hurt.

4. Tinted Windshields Are Safer: 

Vehicle safety can be improved by tinting the windshield. The sun’s harmful UV rays can deteriorate the windshield glass over time. Tinting the windshield can help prevent this from happening.

Injuries are less likely to occur with tempered glass. The windshield glass is tempered through a rapid heating and cooling cycle during production. If tempered glass breaks, it will shatter into small pieces that won’t hurt you very much.

5. Extreme Heat can Damage The Windshield:

A windshield can be damaged by excessive heat. For example, in very cold weather, you shouldn’t use hot water to clear the frost off your windshield. If your windshield is extremely hot, you shouldn’t pour ice water on it because it could crack. The rapid change in temperature may cause the glass of the windshield to expand too quickly, which may eventually cause it to crack.

 6. A French Chemist Invented Shatter-Resistant Windshields:

Edouard Benedictus invented shatter-resistant windshield glass. He had the idea after accidentally dropping a collodion-filled glass flask. The glass cracked but kept its original shape. Even though it was invented at the beginning of the 20th century, it wasn’t used in car glass until around 1920. 

7. Windshield Repair Technology is Evolving: 

In recent years, especially since 1990, the technology used to fix broken windshields has gotten better. For example, with the help of rock chip windshield repair technology, cracks a foot or longer can be repaired much more quickly and easily.

 8. A Faulty Windshield can Impair Airbag Performance:

A poorly fitted windshield can reduce the effectiveness of the passenger airbag. This is why replacing a cracked windshield requires a high level of care and accuracy.

 9. Driving with a Cracked Windshield is Illegal in many Countries:

In many countries, like Nigeria, it is against the law to drive with a cracked windshield. Note that a crack in the windshield is different from a chip, which can often be fixed. A chip is a small piece of damage on a windshield, while a crack is a clear line that goes across the windshield. 
Hope you learned some interesting things about windshields and realized how important they are. It is important to keep your windshield in good shape to make sure that your car and its passengers are as safe as possible. However, chips and cracks occur due to factors beyond your control while driving. Get the assistance of a professional windshield repair specialist and get back on the road. If you live in or near El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM, or Alamogordo, NM, you can always contact us for windshield repair or replacement.