The real reason why those black dots are on your windscreen

People are only discovering that they're more important than we might think.

Have you ever sat in your car and wondered why those black dots on your windscreen are really there?

Well, it turns out there’s a few reasons - and they’re much more important than you might think.

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Image: iStock.

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Keeping things together

Those little black dots you see every day are actually called frits, and one of their main jobs is to keep your car in one piece.

Frits are painted enamel, baked onto the surface of the windscreen, parts of the windows and sometimes behind the rear-view mirror of your car.

They provide a rough surface for the adhesive that binds the windscreen to the car frame, helping the adhesive cure and bond more strongly to the glass.

Without them, the windscreen would become loose and eventually fall out of the frame - which of course is less than ideal.

Sunscreen for your windscreen

Some of the other important purposes of frits are to protect you and your car from the sun.

Every day, there are harsh sun rays beaming down on your car which can weaken the adhesive bond over time.

Thankfully, the gradient of frits acts as a shield, preventing UV rays from penetrating the edge of the glass and ruining the adhesive.

The frits also help to dissipate heat hitting the windscreen, preventing the glass from heating up too much.

If they weren’t there to reduce thermal stress, the glass could crack or warp. 

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You’re telling me they’re not just there to look nice?!

Well, not exactly.

The frits and their gradient are designed the way they are to create the msot visually pleasing transition between the glass and the solid structure of the car. 

Without them, the line between them would be quite harsh, instead using the gradient to make it a little less jarring.

It’s the epitome of function and flair!

But, I don’t have them?

Although not 100% of cars have them, generally, you should!

If you notice that these dots have worn away on your car, be sure to go and get that checked. As you can see, they’re imperative in keeping both you and your car safe.

Originally published as The real reason why those black dots are on your windscreen