During the course of its life, your standard set of Wiper Blades will clean the windscreen over 1 million times, and travel roughly 800 miles. Wiper Blades are typically made from natural rubber, as this gives the most hardy edge for wiping over the glass. However, being exposed to such wear and tear, and also being exposed to the elements, can cause even the Best Wiper Blades to weaken quite swiftly. Continual exposure to sunlight, ozone and precipitation will have detrimental effects on your Wiper Blades.

How often people change their Wiper Blades depends on numerous factors. One such being where a person lives. A person in Northern Europe may change their wipers in time with the changing seasons; once in summer, once in winter. As you move further South into Southern Europe, the Wiper Blades are changed less frequently, due to the drier weather conditions. Another factor is the type of wiper blade being used. The Best Wiper Blades are silicone wiper blades, and people with these blades equipped will notice they have to change their Wiper Blades less frequently compared to normal rubber Wiper Blades.

One thing that is evident is that in most cases, drivers aren’t changing their Wiper Blades as regularly as they should be. Some drivers are even endangering the lives of themselves and their passengers by using Wiper Blades that aren’t up to standard. Research indicates that 60% of drivers who don’t change their own Wiper Blades blame the bewildering amount of adapters that come with many replacement blades. Also some drivers are detered by the various types of Wiper Blades available, such as Silicone Windscreen Wipers, as they are uncertain of the suitability for their own car. Some drivers will attempt to change the Wiper Blades themselves, and can end up damaging the hardware by using too much force to prise off the blade. The consequential frustration is enough to discourage some for good. However, Wiper Blades are much easier to change now than in previous years. Often drivers would be required to use a screwdriver to try and force the Wiper Blades off, now it’s a lot easier to do and causes less frustration.

However, making the blades easier to change isn’t enough for some drivers, and they still aren’t changing them enough. Some companies are attempting to raise awareness of the need to keep your Wiper Blades in superb, and that even the Best Wiper Blades need to be checked to make sure they work fully. A company named Valeo are doing just that, by developing a set of Wiper Blades that have a ‘wear indicator,’ which allows drivers to see when their Wiper Blades need changing. The blade simply simulates the ageing process by changing from black to yellow, giving a clear sign it needs changing.

Hopefully, with companies continuing to support ideas like this, and increasing awareness of road safety, will encourage drivers to change their blades on a regular basis, ensuring the continued safety of driver and passengers.