The vehicle shown here has laminated glass, which is when two or more panes of glass are joined together by a layer of plastic // GMA
Why knowing the type of car windows you have could save your life
As reported by Good Morning America:
This summer as you hit the road, you might want to check out your car windows. The American Automobile Association (AAA) is out with a new report that says just knowing the type of windows you have in your car could save your life.
There are two main types of glass in a car: laminated and tempered glass.
Tempered glass fractures into small, less dangerous pieces in hopes of preventing serious injuries from sharp edges. Laminated glass is two or more panes of glass that are joined together by a layer of plastic and is harder to break and is meant to prevent ejections in an accident.
While most windshields are made of laminated glass, federal regulations permit side windows to be either laminated or tempered, and you may find either type in your side and rear window.
Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, a physiologist at the University of Manitoba, studies extreme rescues and says the use of laminated windows in some cars’ side windows has some pluses and some minuses.
“They will certainly decrease the number of people being ejected,” Giesbrecht told GMA. “But then the problem is if you ever are trapped in your car and you need to break a window, it’s very, very difficult.”