Clear progress: glass technology and the road to zero accidents
Initially used solely to shield drivers from rain and wind and maintain visibility, glass in cars has steadily gained features that protect not only occupants but also pedestrians. The adoption of shatterproof laminated glass in the 1920s, tempered windows in the 1930s and water-repellent windscreens in the 1970s all marked key milestones. Today, glass offers more than just safety: its light-adjusting, insulating and sound-reducing properties improve comfort, while windscreens can also display navigation and speed data using head-up displays.
Despite this progress, a 2023 WHO report on global road safety concludes that 1.19mn people die due to road traffic accidents each year. Over half of these fatalities involve vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. The report also notes that between 20mn and 50mn people suffer non-fatal road traffic injuries worldwide annually. In the US - one of the biggest automotive markets - 40,901 people die from road traffic accidents, with 2.44mn suffering from non-fatal injuries in 2023.
To achieve the WHO target of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, further technological advancements are needed.
A major focus is the wider adoption of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as emergency braking and lane departure warnings. Studies estimate that ADAS could prevent as many as 14mn injuries and nearly 250,000 deaths in the US over the next 30 years.
However, current ADAS, which are based mainly on vehicle-mounted sensors and controls, cannot eliminate accidents by themselves. Progress will depend on more capable sensors and the spread of “cooperative driving automation,” allowing vehicles and infrastructure to communicate and optimise traffic flows. Combined, these systems could significantly reduce accidents caused by human error.
Projected cumulative fatalities prevented by ADAS technologies in the United States, from 2021 through 2050
Source: Best estimate scenario numbers are used in this chart. In the best estimate scenario, vehicles equipped with a full suite of ADAS technology are expected to account for approximately 54% of the entire U.S. vehicle fleet by 2050; from Examining the Safety Benefits of Partial Vehicle Automation Technologies in an Uncertain Future, Aug 2023, The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
But for such safety and autonomous technologies to function effectively, sensors and connectivity must work together seamlessly. Here again, cutting-edge developments in glass technology are expected to play a critical role.
Giving cars a clearer view
Modern cars carry an increasing range of antennas and sensors, including cameras, radar and LiDAR. These gather real-time information on the vehicle’s surroundings to support drivers and enable autonomous functions.
“Antennas and sensors used in these systems are like the eyes and ears for cars, detecting things to complement and expand human sensory capabilities, thereby reducing accidents,” explains Yoshio Takegawa, president of the AGC Automotive Company. “But where should these functions be mounted? We believe it is glass. The material is ideal as it wraps around the upper part of the vehicle, is transparent, and faces all directions.”
Antennas and sensors used in these systems are like the eyes and ears for cars, detecting things to complement and expand human sensory capabilities, thereby reducing accidents
Yoshio Takegawa,
President of the AGC Automotive Company
LiDAR – a light detection and ranging sensor which uses near-infrared light laser technology to generate a digital 3D map of a vehicle’s surroundings. AGC has recently developed Wideye LiDAR glass to cover LiDAR. The specialised glass allows near-infrared light to pass through, and LiDAR can be installed on car roofs, windscreens, and B pillars, enabling 360-degree monitoring. This placement reduces blind spots, improves the accuracy of automated driving systems and enhances protection against collisions.
Glass can also enhance the performance of another increasingly important sensor that captures far-infrared (FIR) light which remotely detects objects under low visibility conditions by measuring heat radiation. FIR sensing is particularly relevant for pedestrian safety, as around 80 per cent of pedestrian deaths in the US occur at night.
In 2024, the US passed a landmark ruling requiring all new cars to include automatic emergency braking capable of detecting pedestrians in both daylight and at nighttime, effective from 2029. The ruling is expected to accelerate demand for FIR sensing for cars, explains Takegawa.
AGC, which says it is committed to addressing the societal challenge of eliminating traffic fatalities and injuries from accidents, has pioneered a solution that enables FIR sensing. The firm’s new windscreen design allows FIR cameras to be positioned high inside the vehicle, behind the front windscreen rather than in the front bumper, shielding the sensor from dust, rain and external damage. In addition, this innovation allows both visible and FIR light to pass through different areas of the windscreen, improving the sensor’s performance. Compared with polycarbonate, glass covers on sensors can resist ageing and maintain transparency over time, supporting more consistent performance.
Glass and the next wave of connected cars
Connectivity – where vehicles communicate with one another, with infrastructure and with cloud services – is seen as critical for road safety by the automotive industry. Antenna-based communication can detect risks such as pedestrians or cyclists at junctions that sensors alone may miss, enabling vehicles to take evasive action automatically.
McKinsey estimates that by 2030, about 95 per cent of new vehicles will be connected, up from about half today. Such connections must be both fast and reliable to allow vehicles to communicate with each other and optimise road safety.
“While CASE (connected, autonomous, service, and electric) trends continue for the automotive industry, with promises of more driving pleasure, comfort and convenience, we should not forget the most important priority: that of ensuring the safety of drivers and pedestrians,” says Takegawa.
% of cars that will be connected in 2030
Source: McKinsey & Company
Advances in communication technology are creating new opportunities for safer and more efficient traffic systems. However, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), a global industry group advancing 5G-based vehicle connectivity, notes that multi-antenna solutions will be essential for connectivity. 5G systems offer the fastest wireless connectivity available, but typically require at least four antennas per vehicle. Grouping these antennas into a single roof-mounted “shark fin” unit can cause interference, as the spacing between antennas may be inadequate. To address this issue, antennas can be distributed across the vehicle’s external surfaces. Embedding them in metal is not an ideal placement, as metal reflects and absorbs radio waves, and raised units impact aerodynamics, thereby limiting design options.
Here too, glass offers a viable solution, enabling more consistent and omnidirectional coverage. AGC has developed glass-embedded antennas, including integrated versions compatible with 5G and ultra-wideband technologies. These can be distributed across windscreens, rear windows and sunroofs. Studies show that V2X (vehicle-to-everything) antennas, which allow cars to exchange information with their surroundings, function more effectively when deployed in a distributed manner.
5G-compatible glass antennas have already been deployed in US rental cars operated by a start-up providing remotely piloted vehicles. The company had struggled with connectivity issues using shark fin antennas, but reported improved performance after adopting glass-embedded antennas. According to AGC, connectivity has improved.
AGC forecasts value-added CASE-related glass products to rise from about 10 per cent of its automotive sales today to around 30 per cent by 2030. But Takegawa notes this growth must remain rooted in addressing social issues such as road safety.
“As the world strives for zero traffic accidents, we, as a leading glass company, will continue pioneering solutions in automotive glass which eliminate accidents,” he says.