History

• The first vehicle windshields sold were an optional upgrade the owner could add on at the time of purchase. People wore goggles while driving cars without windshields. They were purchased by individuals who no longer wanted to drive with goggles and could afford the option, though there is no clear indication of how much that upgrade cost in the early 1900s. Soon after the first windshield was put on the market, enclosed trucks, buses and cars were invented. The demand for automotive glass spiked and has remained high ever since.
  
  

Time Frame

• Wraparound glass was put on cars in the mid 1900s and was the first milestone in automotive glass. Before its inception, vehicles were typically equipped with a one-person top, in addition to side curtains. This meant that vehicles were mostly driven when the weather was fair. By 1929, most cars were equipped with wraparound glass, which provided protection from flying debris, mud splashes, wind, rain and road dust. People could now drive their cars in all types of weather.
  
  

Potential

• Though glass provided protection from the elements, it was not a perfect product. Because of the way windows were produced, the driver's vision through them was distorted, and they tended to be expensive, as well. As a result, auto-glass manufacturers began changing the way they made their product. Instead of using what was known as the "batch" method, they switched to the so-called "ribbon" method. This switch made auto glass more affordable and improved its quality, eliminating the distortion. The improvements by the manufacturers made the use of glass windshields in cars more practical and thus widespread.
  
  

Considerations

• Because car windshields were made from common glass, they had a tendency to shatter into sharp shards when broken. This was very dangerous for the driver and passenger during collisions. As a result, glass manufacturers developed a safer type of glass by laminating a fine film layer between two thin glass layers. This was the first safety glass and was manufactured in 1928. When the windshield was broken, the film held the glass in place, which reduced injuries sustained from flying glass. Over the years, technology has helped to improve the film layer and the quality of auto glass has also improved. All vehicles made in the United States have come equipped with safety glass since 1966.
  
  

Benefits

• Car windshields provide many benefits. In addition to protecting the vehicle's interior, driver and passengers from the elements, they also provide protection against theft. Though a thief can simply break a window, it provides a barrier between passersby and a car sitting in a parking lot. It isn't as if someone can just walk by and stick their hand in your car.