Fleet and health and safety managers at the pharmaceutical giant Janssen-Cilag, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, are backing the move after examining statistical data on rain-related accidents and the potential risk to employees.
The firm is using Weathertec's Ombrello, a carbon polymer treatment to fill the imperfections on windscreens and produce a smooth, sealed surface. Every windscreen normally contains minute pits and ridges, which enable water to cling to the surface and 'smear' when windscreen wipers are used.
When the vehicle is moving at speeds of more than 35mph, Weathertec claims rain droplets run off Ombrello-treated screens without the need for wipers.
The solution also makes it easier to remove insects. It is applied directly to a cleaned windscreen and wiped over using an applicator. Once in place, Weathertec claims Ombrello will last for a year of normal driving in all weather conditions.
Janssen-Cilag sees the application of Ombrello as complementing its 'Safe Fleet' programme, implemented throughout Johnson & Johnson, which helps the firm claim to be one of the world's safest fleets.
Last month, Alison Crump, fleet manager for Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, another Johnson & Johnson company, took the Fleet Risk Management Award at the Fleet News Awards.
Janssen-Cilag will be closely monitoring the Ombrello-treated fleet against control groups to evaluate the impact on accident frequency and severity plus other key indicators against which the fleet safety performance is routinely measured. The data will be available later this year.
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