This report evaluates the influence of two recent automobile windshield modifications on windshield damage and on the frequency, severity and nature of windshield related head injury. The two modifications (and their previous counterpart standards) which were considered in this report are concerned with windshield construction and installation. The first modification involved a change to a new laminated glass with a double thickness (0.030-inch) polyvinyl butyrate interlayer with controlled adhesion properties that was made by the entire U.S. automobile industry in 1966 models. The second modification, adhesive bonding of the windshield glass to the frame, replaced the frame and molding attachment technique used in most U.S. manufactured automobiles up to 1965.
Abstract