A Clear View for Safety

Clear vision is required to operate a motor vehicle safely. This is why state motor vehicle authorities require vision tests to qualify for a driver’s license. This is also why windshield wipers are an important safety feature on modern vehicles.

The basics

During inclement weather, windshield wipers removes water from the windshield to increase visibility, which improves your safety and the safety of those around you.

Wiper blades have changed very little over the years aside from a few gimmicks. They have three parts:

1. A rubber strip cut like a blade
2. Metal and springs to hold the blade to the windshield
3. A motor to move the rubber blade over the windshield glass to remove the water

Normal wear

The life of a set of wiper blades can depend on weather conditions. In very warm climates, the rubber does not last as long because the sun hardens the rubber over time. When the rubber is hard, the wiper blade makes poor contact with the windshield surface.

Care and maintenance

Since rubber degrades over time, windshield wiper blades should be inspected and/or replaced every 6 months. This will help ensure a clear windshield under all operating conditions.