What is the primary concern when using tempered glass for side and rear windows?

The primary concern when using tempered glass for side and rear windows is that it may shatter into small pieces upon impact. Tempered glass is designed to be stronger than regular glass and is treated to withstand high levels of stress and temperature variations. However, in the event that it is broken, it does not break into sharp shards like other types of glass. Instead, it fractures into small, blunt pieces that are less likely to cause injury. This characteristic is essential for the safety of passengers, but the downside is that if tempered glass does sustain enough force to break, it will disintegrate quickly, which could pose hazards in specific scenarios. The presence of these small fragments is critical for understanding how tempered glass behaves in accidents or impacts, thus affirming why this concern is significant in its use for vehicle side and rear windows.