Laminated Windshields

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

Sfarasino, Us and Canada require laminated windshield meeting the ASI 
standard to be used in all passenger cars. This is a US standard. Tempered 
windshields are no longer permitted.

The laminated windshields now are so tough they actually restrain the 
occupant even if unbelted. The three layer windshield has toughened glass 
on the outside so as to deflect rocks etc as much as possible, a plastic 
film sandwiched in the middle, and a thicker glass inside that will break 
into rounded chunks if struck from the inside, as by a head for example. As 
an aside I have noticed that laminated windshield appear to get more 
brittle as they age (heat cycling from the sun? cumulative effect of 
multiple minor stone impacts?) and after about four years in our tough 
Canadian conditions suddenly become less resistant to stone breakage.

Tempered windshields have a nasty habit of shattering for no apparent 
reason. Nobody should be using this primitive technology any longer. 
However, the deduction that LHD and RHD windshields would be different due 
to the small clear pane of untempered glass situated right in front of the 
driver is correct. Talk about a Rube Goldberg solution to a problem better 
solved by scrapping the entire design!
Michael Smith
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
91 Alfa 164L, White, original owner

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