28^th May, 2001

Windscreen myth a safety risk

Any attempt by a motorist to remove a windscreen after major damage is fraught with danger according to Windscreens O’Brien, which has warned that a misconception based on older windscreen technology could put motorists at risk of serious injury.

The misconception stems from the days of toughened glass windscreens, which have not been in common use for more than 20 years.

Toughened windscreens turned opaque or shattered into thousands of pieces after even minor impacts, with the remainder of the glass needing to be removed before motorists could drive away.

A recommended method of removing a damaged windscreen back then was to wrap a piece of cloth around one’s hand first, or to use an implement to punch out the screen before driving to a repair shop.

Windscreens O’Brien technical service manager Dr Darryl Yaniuk said this advice was not only irrelevant but was potentially dangerous when applied to modern laminated windscreens.

"It’s a common perception which dates back to the use of toughened glass windscreens which were phased out in the late 1970s," said Dr Yaniuk.

Modern laminated screens remain transparent and in a single piece when hit by objects such as rocks or stones.

"When a laminated windscreen is damaged, even as a result of quite a severe impact, it will generally remain in shape and in place," Dr Yaniuk said.

"Laminated windscreens are also installed using an extremely strong polyurethane adhesive which chemically bonds the glass to the body metal of the vehicle. It’s not possible to ‘punch out’ a correctly installed laminated windscreen."

It’s also not recommended to use implements such as tyre levers to attempt to remove a damaged windscreen or to put a hole in the windscreen.

"There is a great risk of personal injury for no gain," Dr Yaniuk said.

"Modern windscreens can only be cut from a vehicle by a trained autoglazier or other industry professional using specialised tools."

Even a severely damaged laminated windscreen will still allow the driver to see the road ahead and protect the occupants from road debris.