Noting that over 1.4 million cars were broken into in 2003, the report criticises car manufacturers and insurers for not insisting on the mandatory introduction of laminated glass.Which? tests showed that it takes a thief around five times as long to break through laminated glass as it does to get through standard glass.It says the only cars offering laminated glass as standard on the UK market are the Audi A8, the VW Phaeton and Lexus LS430 (which achieved respectively places 1, 2 and 3 in the luxury car category in the British Insurance Car Security Awards held yesterday).
The Lexus LS430 scored eight in the theft from Which? tests compared to Fiat and Suzuki who consistently scored as low as one or two.
Which? notes contrasting attitudes towards laminated glass among manufacturers, with Daewoo reportedly calling it a "white elephant but Honda seriously considering it for their fleet and Karl Schlicht, Director, Lexus GB commenting: "Laminated glass plays a big part in providing superb security along with enhancing the in-car refinement adding noise reduction."
Which? urges that manufacturers fit laminated glass
Insurers should put pressure on car manufacturers to raise their security standards according to the July Which? Report.