Laminated glass has been used in windscreens for many years, though tempered glass is still commonly used in side and rear windows. However there is an increasing trend towards laminated glass in all positions.
Laminated glass is formed by bonding layers of glass either side of a tough plastic film. Unlike tempered glass which will shatter into small crystal-like pieces when broken, broken pieces of laminated glass will generally stay attached to the plastic layer, and the broken window or windscreen will usually stay in place in its opening.
Some of the claimed advantages are that laminated glass reduces noise transfer into the passenger space, lowers interior temperatures by reflecting infrared radiation, and reduces ultra violet radiation. Additionally, glass manufacturers suggest that laminated side glass increases safety by being more resistant to breakage in a crash. This has benefits in preventing ejection or partial ejection of occupants in a rollover and, as the glass remains intact even when broken, the risk of damage to side and curtain airbags is reduced.
Another important benefit is that laminated glass makes the vehicle more resistant to smash and grab attacks. Some manufacturers of prestige vehicles offer very high strength glass, which is resistant to all but the most determined attacks.
A down side though is that breaking a window to free a person from a locked or crashed vehicle is a more difficult process.
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