Besides the windshield, the remaining windows of your vehicle, including the rear window, are constructed of tempered glass. This tempered glass is manufactured using rapid heating and cooling methods, which strengthens the glass. When the structural stability of tempered glass is compromised, it does not shatter; rather, it breaks into small, pebble-like pieces which are dull, and do not cut like shattered glass. This helps prevent additional injuries caused by sharp shards of glass in the event of an accident.

The windshields of all vehicles are constructed from a type of glass known as laminated glass. This type of glass is different than what is used for the rest of your vehicle’s windows. Used since 1927, laminated glass is created by placing a thin sheet of adhesive plastic between two layers of glass. This transparent plastic is called polyvinyl butyrate, or PVB, and is infused with the glass using extreme pressure and heat. The PVB sheet holds the glass together in the event of impact, and prevents the windshield from shattering. This helps prevent further injury to the occupants that may be caused from the shattered glass.