'Don't assume you're protected': Do car windows keep your skin safe from UV?

12/28/2024 02:05 PM

We all know Australian summers get hot and we need to make sure we 'slip, slop, slap, seek, slide' when the sun is out – but most of us don't think about what's happening to our skin through our car windows.

It's easy to think that once you're safely inside a car and the doors and windows are shut you're home and dry, but that's sadly not the case.

Although most cars offer a good amount of UV protection, the amount varies depending on the make and model, its age, and what kind of glass is used.

Here's what you need to know about the dangers and what you can do to prevent them.

Do car windows protect from UV?

Yes, but not completely. It depends on the type of UV radiation.

There are two types that can affect our skin, UVA and UVB – both can cause skin cancer and eye damage.

According to the Cancer Council, all types of car window glass block most (but not all) UVB, but when it comes to UVA it depends on the type of glass used – laminated or tempered.

RELATED: 'No lower than 10 per cent': Can you put stickers on your windscreen?

Laminated glass, which is used for windscreens, provides better protection because it has a tough plastic layer bonded between two panes of glass that allows it to block around 98 per cent of UVA radiation.

Tempered glass, however, is typically used in side and rear windows as well as sunroofs, and allows more UVA with the degree of protection said to vary dramatically depending on how thick it is.

Other things to consider are whether the windows are open or closed and the position of the vehicle in relation to the sun at the time – and obviously a closed window offers more protection.

Can you get skin cancer through car windows?

Technically, yes you can. 

However, the Cancer Council says that UV radiation “poses little health risk to people unless they are spending extended periods of time close to windows that receive direct sun or have a severe photosensitive skin disorder”. 

It recommends that those who spend a lot of time in the car should consider using sun protection to prevent harmful exposure to UV.

The shorter UVB rays are the ones that mainly cause sunburn, while the longer UVA rays lead to things such as skin ageing, wrinkles, and also sunburn. 

Prolonged exposure to both types can lead to skin cancer.

“Don't assume because you are in an automobile and the window is closed that you’re protected from UV light,” Dr Jayne Weiss told Reuters Health following a 2016 study into UV exposure in cars.

How to protect yourself

Cancer Council Australia recommends that people who spend long periods of time in a vehicle use a combination of sun protection measures, such as a long-sleeved shirt with a collar, sunglasses and sunscreen that is SPF 50 or higher.

However, particularly for people who spend a lot of time in the car, or for children, there are additional precautions you can take – such as window tints or covers you can buy.

There is, of course, an extra cost associated with this – with covers being the cheaper option. However, you can't put them on the front driver or passenger windows.

Tints and covers are said to block up to 99 per cent of UV rays, so they are effective. Many companies are offering these services, too many to list, but big names include Tint a Car, Oztint and Snap Shades.

The UK's Automobile Association also has a list of tips it recommends to keep yourself and those travelling with you safe in the car:

• Wear sunscreen or cover up if you're on a road trip in summer with windows or a sunroof open
• If you burn easily and drive a lot, then you should wear sunscreen or cover up even if you keep windows closed. Use the air conditioning to keep you cool
• If you’re driving with the roof down, wear a hat and sunscreen
• Make sure that passengers, particularly children, are protected too
• Carry a sun hat, long-sleeved clothing and sunscreen in case you break down – you may not be able to find somewhere safe to wait for help that’s also shady
• Choose a sunscreen that can protect against both UVA and UVB
• Protect your children’s more sensitive skin by using sunscreen and clothing – consider fitting extra shading to car windows
• Choose sunglasses that provide UV protection.

How to add UV protection to car windows

As above, window tints or covers can reduce UV radiation by up to 99 per cent – so they could be a worthwhile addition to your car if you're concerned.

According to the Cancer Council, window tinting is recommended for work vehicles where practical, but the general public should also consider the benefits. 

Alternatively, fabric side window covers can provide shade and UV protection, and are an easy go-to for keeping children and babies safe while travelling in a vehicle.

Again, they can only be effective if the windows are closed.

It's worth noting too that films or tints applied to car windows must meet state and territory regulations which can vary.

These rules often stipulate a maximum darkness, known as the visible light transmission level (VLT) for the windscreen, and side and rear windows, and windscreens can't be tinted as the minimum VLT requirement is 75 per cent.

However, a tinted band (not more than 10 per cent of the windscreen area) is permitted as long as it is above the part of the windscreen swept by the wipers according to Australian Design Rules.

Do all car windows have UV protection?

No. The degree to which your car will protect you from UV radiation will depend on the glass used in the manufacturing process and that will vary from brand to brand.

Drive has canvassed some of the biggest car makers in Australia to find out what they do and here's what they told us.

Mazda

According to Mazda, all of its models have UV protection on all windows and 100 per cent coverage on the windscreens.

Protection on the rear windows, quarters and tailgate varies but is no less than 65 per cent. Mazda also said coverage on its latest models is higher.

Additionally, any vehicles fitted with a sunroof have at least 94 per cent UV protection.

Mitsubishi

All Mitsubishi models currently sold in Australia have varying degrees of UV protection on the windows, but the windscreens on all of them are rated to block up to 100 per cent.

According to Mitsubishi Australia, the specification for its window tints complies with ADR and has been tested by its parent company in Japan.

All Mitsubishi models currently on sale in Australia UV protection on the windshield glass which is rated to block up to 100 per cent of UV rays.

On the ASX small SUV, the front windows block up to 68 per cent of UV rays on all variants, but for the entry-level grade's glass on the rear doors, quarter and tailgate is rated to a lesser 66 per cent.

Privacy glass fitted to the rear doors, quarter and tailgate windows on MR and above blocks up to 94 per cent of UV rays. On top of that, the Exceed has protection on the sunroof glass too, rated to block up to 100 per cent.

On the Eclipse Cross and Eclipse Cross PHEV SUVs the front door glass is rated to block up to 91 per cent of UV rays, while the ES variants on the rear door windows and tailgate block up to 66 per cent. 

All other grades in the range contain privacy glass at the back, rated to block up to 94 per cent of UV rays. Exceed variants that are fitted with a sunroof block up to 95 per cent as well.

For the Outlander and Outlander PHEV models, the front door glass of the current generation is rated to block up to 99 per cent of UV rays, an increase from up to 90 per cent on the previous one.

The 2WD, AWD and PHEV ES variants contain rear-door, quarter and tailgate glass that blocks up to 66 per cent of UV rays, while all other variants stop up to 94 per cent. The Exceed grade and above are also fitted with sunroof glass rated to stop up to 97 per cent.

On the current-generation Triton, the front door glass and rear door glass block 65 per cent and 63 per cent respectively.

The rear glass is rated to protect from up to 69 per cent of UV rays on the GLX, while for the GLX+ variant and above, which are fitted with privacy glass, this figure increases to 95 per cent.

The Pajero Sport's front windows are rated to block up to 69 per cent of UV rays, and the rear door, quarter and tailgate glass on the GLX is rated to prevent up to 66 per cent of UV rays. On top of that, grades GLS and above containing privacy glass on these windows are rated to stop up to 94 per cent.

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