There are many different types of glass such as plate, mirrored, tempered and laminated.  Plate glass is used in the doors and windows of homes and other buildings.  Plate glass when broken can break into sharp dangerous shards.  This can happen when the glass plate is struck, bent or stressed. However, houses rarely move, so the risk of breakage is minimal. Because of this fact, the advantage and aesthetics of using large expanses of clear glass outweigh the risk of breakage.

In your automobile the risk of a broken window or windshield is much greater, especially in the case of an accident. When the automobile is in motion there is a much greater possibility the broken glass will strike the driver or a passenger.  This is why passenger automobile windows are constructed using tempered glass.  Tempered glass has been heat treated in such a way that the structure of the glass is changed, so when broken, it shatters into tiny little cubes.  These smaller pieces are less likely to slice or cut the automobile’s occupants.

The front windshield of an automobile has a totally different type glass.  It is called laminated glass, which are two sheets of glass with a film of plastic in between them.  This is one of the safest types of glass to use when there is a possibility of flying objects such as rocks or other road debris hitting it. The laminated glass is much less likely to shatter or break into pieces because the plastic inner liner holds the glass together.  When struck with an object such as a rock, the laminated glass may break, but the damage will be confined in a much smaller area. If the windshield is attended to soon after damage, it can often be repaired without having to replace the entire windshield.  Even a small break can expand, so if you do get one, do not hesitate to contact a professional for an auto glass repair quote.  The sooner you get it fixed, the less damage there will be to fix.