Millions of drivers operate their vehicles unsafely every day. An unseen danger potentially exists whenever a replacement windscreen has been installed into a vehicle. Although replacement windscreens are not an obvious threat to passenger safety, they still constitute a serious road hazard. Even wearing safety belts cannot protect passengers during a crash if the integrity of their windscreen has been compromised.
Windscreens protect passengers from the elements, but they serve other functions as well. When properly installed, they remain securely in place even during collisions. They keep passengers and drivers inside of the vehicle, and they also provide reinforcement during an unfortunate incident.
Original installed windscreens are much safer than replacements. A manufacturing company using specific techniques and tools always installs the original glass. The company uses specialty equipment, trained technicians and proper handling precautions to ensure that the windscreen is installed correctly.
Factory-installed windscreens also provide the following assurances to the consumer:
• They reinforce the roof during rollovers and collisions
• They deflect airbags back inside the vehicle
• Human hands never touch the windscreen during installation
Ideally, replacements would carry similar assurances for consumers, but finding a company willing to install a replacement correctly is surprisingly difficult. In fact, replacement windscreens are rarely installed correctly.
Consider the following numbers:
• 11 million replacements are made each year
• millions of windscreens have been installed incorrectly
• Replacement is often necessary when a windscreen is cracked or damaged
Windscreen Replacement Facts:
The correct use of primers and adhesives affect the overall safety of the vehicle. However, no license or certification is currently required in order to perform these installations legally. This inadvertently places the burden of quality assurance on the shoulders of the consumer.
Why Replace?
It is fairly common for glass to become damaged at some point. For example, rocks might fall onto a windscreen while driving on a highway. The owner will usually call a company to replace the windscreen. During the installation process, the new unit might be subjected to one of the following installation errors:
• The installer does not wear gloves and touches the inside surface of the replacement glass. The oils from their hands contaminate the bonding surface.
• The installer neglects to use a secondary primer, which is used to harden and secure the windscreen into place.
• Primer should always be applied to the windscreen before using any urethane adhesives. This secures the windscreen firmly into place. If the primer is applied incorrectly or not at all, the glue can be easily removed.
• Glue should be allowed to dry completely before operating the vehicle.
• Butyl tape is a cheap adhesive that is too weak to properly secure the glass firmly into place. It is often used just because it is inexpensive, but it is not safe.
A Serious Danger:
Passenger airbags are designed to bounce off of a stable surface. If the bonding is compromised for any reason, the glass may pop out of the vehicle with only a minimal amount of applied force. Many airbags generate enough force to push faulty windscreens from the vehicle. Replacement windscreens should not be able to pop out of any vehicle for any reason.
In one notorious incident, a driver was thrown from her car. The car was found in a ditch, but the driver's body was discovered 70 feet from the vehicle. The windscreen was located near the body. Instead of serving as reinforcement and protection during this crash, her improperly installed windscreen was believed to have increased the severity of the accident.
Consumers must be willing to make informed decisions about replacing their windscreen. Companies that are certified by the National Glass Association have demonstrated their knowledge of correct installation procedures. Unfortunately, certification also does not guarantee that the company will adhere to these procedures; however, it does increase the probability of proper installation. Consumers are advised to use their best judgment when selecting a company to perform the replacement.
