A scratched windscreen increases the risk of accidents

Scratched windscreen significantly increases the risk of accidents – it shows a test of a Swedish research institute and referred to Saint-Gobain representative Sekura.

Light reflected on the windscreen of cars used high-turnover influence driver behavior.

Changing the windscreen is needed not only if it is broken or cracked, and when used for a long time. Reflected light scratches on the windshield is more likely to blind the driver, who thus may not notice while pedestrian or obstacle in front of him. Moreover, this also means that it has less chance to avoid an accident.

This review was supported by figures by VTI, National Research Institute of Sweden traffic: measured by testing on simulator effects it has on the windshield driver used in different circumstances. Specialists have been not only change driving habits, and decreased visual distance.
For three windscreens tests were used: one new, one from a car has covered 150,000 km and 350,000 km another. In total 234 drivers have traveled the same route three times, once with each windshield.
In each round there are two obstacles in front of them, and blindness was caused by a reflector mounted in front of the screen simulator. It was late afternoon sun simulated front – quite realistic view of drivers participating in the test.

Particles dangerous
Driving, airborne dust particles may exhibit a similar effect windscreen sandblasting sand, but with time and windscreen wipers may involve serious, especially if they are not changed in time. Consequently light reflected prismatic before the driver can easily blind, for example when the sun goes down or at night from traffic counter bright.
Dazzle depends on the degree of wear of the windscreen. During the tests was measured and visual distance and experts concluded that seriously affects scratched windshield visibility. The difference between the visibility of the best and the most worn windshield was about 130 meters, which means a deviation of 65%.
“When I wanted to see what happens if the driver must intervene quickly to avoid an obstacle, to proven to have maneuvered less well when led by a worn windshield, “said Anne Bolling, Head tests.
Drivers have noticed obstacle blinded later, more powerful brakes and more abruptly dodge maneuver performed – although led by 15 km / h slower than the windscreen good.

The reality is worse
These circumstances have led to a more risky driving style, i.e. increased risk of accidents. Some drivers could not avoid the obstacle as they appeared in front, had to get over it. If new windscreen such events did not occur, the windshield average 4% of drivers used and heavily worn at 8% hit obstacle. In real life it would have led to the accident, so the results clearly show that driving with a worn windscreen is risky, especially with front light.

“Although it has its limits and simulation, we found great influence that blindness has on driving behavior,” said Csaba Dallos, Saint-Gobain director Hungária Kft Sekura., Adding: “In actual traffic more factors (drop of rain or dirt on the windscreen) breaks visibility, which may influence the driver a greater extent than shows test results.”
Saint-Gobain therefore Sekura advice is that if multiple trips – taking into account safety – change the windscreen worth spent. The coating easy to apply that makes water slide off the windshield, Saint-Gobain as Aquacontrol, increase driving safety and visual comfort.