The Hindu Business Line : Question 'N' Auto

NOWADAYS a lot of cars come in full beige finish interiors, which includes even the dashboard area right below the windscreen. I find that this affects the vision of the driver, as the reflection on the windscreen is more than in cars with the usual grey/black finish. What has been your experience? Do you think that this new colour theme distracts the driver?

Kasi Visveswaran

With customers willing to pay more for luxurious interiors, many of today's cars come with non-traditional colour themes for the interiors. A lighter colour brightens up the interior and gives the car an airy, more spacious feel. That is one of the reasons why quite a few manufacturers now offer a two-tone finish, where the top portion of the dashboard and the corresponding door panels at the same level of sight are of a darker (grey or brown) colour and the lower half of the dash, the seat upholstery, carpets and lower door panels of a lighter (ivory, cream or fawn) colour . This creates an illusion of more legroom and space.

But the important point is that it is not the colour of the dashboard panels that determines the amount of reflection on the windscreen, but the quality of plastic used for the panels. The dashboard panels are made of different kinds of plastic — ABS, HDPE, and so on.

The moulded panels' quality varies with the manufacturer and the car's positioning, with the more expensive premium cars featuring better quality soft, matt-finished plastic and the low-end small cars having shiny, brittle, poor quality plastic.

It is such poor quality plastic that reflects light onto the windscreen. The amount of light reflected tends to be higher during early afternoon and the evening hours. Further, in some cars, the light reflected increases over time owing to the deteriorating quality of dashboard plastic. So, lighter colours for the dashboard do not automatically mean increased windscreen reflection.

Dashboard plastic quality deteriorates over time because of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. So, excess exposure to the sun will lead to fading, discolouration, cracking and ageing of the dashboard plastic, which in turn will result in greater windscreen reflection . Also, objects left on the dashboard, especially magazines, files, books, and so on, will increase reflection and distract the driver's attention.

Using after market sunshields and foldable reflectors when the car is left in the open can protect dashboard plastic. You can also use dashboard panel sprays and cleaners, but ensure that they only clean and not leave the panels shinier.

Queries may be sent to: q&a@thehindu.co.in or by post to Q&A, Business Line, 859/860, Kasturi Buildings, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

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