The urethanes used in windshield replacement are among the improvements in vehicle manufacturing and maintenance that have come about over the years recognized recently by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, the Knight Ridder newswire is reporting.

Estimating that the use and improvement of urethane over the years has saved 6,710 people, "adhesive windshield bonding" was among the top ten vehicle improvements that have made a difference.

"Windshields often popped out in crashes in the days when they were mounted in rubber gaskets glued to the vehicles' frames. Now, most windshields are fastened directly to the frame. In a crash, they remain there, even when partially shattered, and passengers don't fly through them," the report said.

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