Reading Time: 2 minutes
Table of Contents
To many motorists, ‘the windscreen phenomenon’ might seem like an end to one of the biggest nuisances associated with motorway driving. However, to many environmentalists, this news is considered the symptom of something rather troubling. So, in this article, the team at 1st Call Windscreens will delve further into this problem, and look at the implications it has for both motorists and naturalists.
The nature of the phenomenon is quite simple: do you remember how, shortly after your car had been cleaned, you would look at your windscreen and, to your horror, it had quickly become a mass graveyard for small insects? This was a real problem for many motorists, especially in the summer. And then it wasn’t.
This is the windscreen phenomenon: not seeing the splatter of insects on one’s windscreen after driving at a certain speed. For most motorists, this sort of thing would simply go unnoticed, and if it was, it would be deemed a trivial phenomenon that benefited them anyway. However, unfortunately, this phenomenon isn’t anywhere as trivial as we might like to think.
A lack of insects plastered to our windscreens isn’t just something we’re experiencing here in the UK, either – it’s a worldwide phenomena. Scientists in various regions of Europe and North America have noticed marked reductions in insect populations, reductions which have major implications for the biotic world and human society.
This is certainly interesting, you might think, but there’s another question to be asked: why are scientists using everyday driving experiences and the testimony of your average motorist to make scientific inferences? What do we know?
Well, it’s more about what scientists don’t know. In recent years, scientists simply hadn’t been studying the insects which we tended to find on our windscreens, meaning that there was little reliable data out there regarding population numbers.
However, scientists had been documenting the alarming declines in species such as domesticated honey bees and monarch butterflies. So, teaming this existing knowledge with the windscreen phenomenon allowed scientists to make a greater discovery: there are in fact numerous species of insect whose populations are on a steep decline.
It’s not entirely clear what’s causing these losses in in insect populations. However, there are two factors which stand out as the most likely contributors. These are drastic changes in habitat from ever-increasing agricultural production and changing weather patterns, and also the intensive use of a new generation of pesticides. As fields expand and hedgerows disappear, we are constantly depriving these creatures a place to live and thrive.
So, this certainly gives you something to think about next time you’re driving around on a hot summer’s day!
Here at 1st Call Windscreens, we’ve made quite the name for ourselves throughout Maidstone, Gillingham, Sittingbourne, Chatham, Rochester, Medway Towns and the neighbouring areas. We offer an extremely efficient and competitively priced service replacing and repairing windscreens, generating a huge number of satisfied customers. If you’d like to be one of them, simply contact us today!
Posted by: 1st Call Windscreens
We are proud to be a leading windscreen company covering our local areas of Maidstone, Sittingbourne and the rest of Kent since 1996. Our 25+ years experience in windscreen services includes windscreen repair and replacement for cars, vans, trucks and more! Our expert technicians hold the relevant qualifications so you can rest easy knowing that your windscreen is in safe hands.
Discovered my Volvo V50 was not sealing at the top. Autoglass wanted to replace it for £700, called 1st Call and they removed and resealed it for £100+vat and said that if it had broken it would only ...
- 6 days ago
Absolutely the best. From the first phone call to collecting my car with new side window that had been vandalised being replaced. next day service so my car was back on the road promptly. Extremely ...
- 3 weeks ago
Excellent Workmanship Good Value and Top Quality Customer Service: I recently had my Ford Fiesta ST heated windscreen replaced by 1st Call Windscreens, I couldn't be happier with the whole experienc...
- 1 month ago
Brilliant service. Would recommend 1st call windscreens to anyone looking for an efficient service. Friendly and helpful above and beyond ! 0...
- 1 month ago
Asked for a quote online which came through quickly. Just £48 inc vat for windscreen stone chip. Phoned to book a repair. I could either take the car to them or they would come out to me the next day....
- 2 months ago
Tom turned up on time, he was professional but friendly, he kept me informed on what he was doing and progress, and did a great job! Thanks Tom. Would highly recommend...
- 2 months ago
I needed my windscreen replaced due to a large crack; I was booked in straight away and I couldn’t be happier. They came to my house to fit the replacement, only took them about 20 minutes and they ev...
- 3 months ago
Couldn't be happier, had my Evoque windscreen re sealed as was leaking. Highly recommend 1st Call Windscreens. The guys were extremely helpful & friendly both on phone and doing the work. The work was...
- 3 months ago
Fantastic service, booked for a site visit to alleviate any disruption to the engineers day and it all went seamlessly. I would definitely recommend 1st Call Windscreens and will use them in the futu...
- 3 months ago
Customer service were great responded to my call out vey quickly and the guy that came out was very nice and helpful Thank you...
- 4 months ago
Had my chip fixed at my home this afternoon - cannot praise the service enough!!!! Lovely man who took 10-15 minutes - perfect job and no issues - very good price and highly recommend them Jo Seveno...
- 5 months ago
Very helpful and carried out a repair at very short notice on our way to catch a ferry. Very polite and stabilised the chip in our windscreen so that we could continue abroad for our holiday uninterru...
- 6 months ago
Made a call to 1st call windscreens as I was worried about a chip in my screen. The guys were very helpful, turned up on time and carried out a fantastic repair and was cheaperthan my insurance acce...
- 6 months ago
We had an emergency windscreen repair needed when travelling down from Oxfordshire to Kent. The Sittingbourne team went out of their way to help us at very short notice and allowing us to resume our j...
- 6 months ago
Jake was friendly, polite and helpful. He left no mess inside or outside the car and took away the boxes the seals came in even though they were supplied direct by the BMW dealer....
- 7 months ago
Arrived on time at my home address. Was very professional, polite and efficient. No hassle and no mess. Screen was replaced on my mini in no time at all and looks perfect. Thank you will highly recom...
- 7 months ago
So happy with Byron and Jake today very friendly and professional from 1st Call Windscreens Ltd. They come extremely well prepared with attention to detail. A great job was done on replacing my wind...
- 7 months ago
1st Call windscreens are absolutely 1st class. Spoke with David on the phone and he was so helpful and knowledgeable. Took our car up to them to advise on the correct windscreens which embarrassingl...
- 7 months ago
George west from 1st call windscreens Ltd was quite friendly and managed to do a fantastic job on my stone CHIP WINDSCREEN....
- 7 months ago
Excellent all round service and a very quick response so we highly recommend 1st Call Windscreens every time....
- 8 months ago
Great service from Kieran. Easy to arrange. Convenience of a home visit and great professional job. So happy....
- 8 months ago
Watch 1st Call Windscreens video, featuring our experts in windscreen repair & replacement in Sittingbourne, Maidstone & Gillingham in Kent.
You can come to us or we can come to you. We repair and replace windscreens from single vehicles to whole fleets.
Get a free quoteMAP LOADING...
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and deliver personalised ads. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.