UV windscreen myth busted | Gold Coast Insurance | Insurance News for Gold Coast, Australia

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Qld car insurance premiums reviewed

THERE are a few simple things you can do to reach a balance between the type of car insurance you need, and the amount of money you pay for your premium.

DRIVING carefully may not be enough to protect you in your car. Many drivers often forget about the potentially harmful effects of UV radiation through windscreens and window glass.

How much UV protection do your car windows or windscreen provide?

Ultra-violet radiation (UVR) is comprised of UVA, UVB and UVC rays. UVC is scattered by the atmosphere, but UVA and UVB reach the earth’s surface and are of particular concern, because they can cause skin cancer. Two thousand Queenslanders are diagnosed with melanoma each year(1), so it’s not an issue to be taken lightly.

UVR levels inside your car can vary depending on factors such as whether the side windows are open or closed and the car’s orientation to the sun. Although they are generally lower than outside the car, they can range from as low as 4% to 50% of the ambient UVR in full sunlight.(2)

Clear auto glass (side windows) block about 97% of the UVB radiation and about 37% of the UVA.(3)

A laminated windscreen – a tough layer of plastic bonded between two panes of glass – blocks all of the UVB radiation, but allows 20% of the UVA radiation through, so you can still be sunburned after a long drive.(4)

Windscreen films can reduce the transmission of UVA even further. Depending on the quality of the film used, as much as 97% of the UVA can be blocked.(5)

To ensure you are as protected from the sun as possible, always remember to apply an effective sunscreen before driving.

Suncorp has been a major sponsor of the skin cancer research laboratories at QIMR since 2004 and has raised more than $1.2 million to help make significant discoveries in the fight against skin cancer.

Suncorp Insurance protects your property and your lifestyle. For more information, visit www.suncorp.com.au/musthave or call Suncorp on 13 11 55 and get the must-have Queensland insurance.


The personal insurance products offered at suncorp.com.au/musthave are issued by Suncorp Metway Insurance Ltd. ABN 83 075 695 966. AFSL 229869. The issuer has not taken your particular objectives, financial situation or needs into account and does not know if its products would be suitable for you. You should consider your objectives and read the relevant Suncorp Insurance Product Disclosure Statement, before making any decisions about any of these products.