A system that includes a protective windshield system that deflects particulate away from a vehicle. The protective windshield system includes a sensor that senses the particulate and emits a signal indicative of the particulate. A deflection system deflects the particulate away from the vehicle. A controller couples to the sensor and to the deflection system. The controller detects the particulate and activates the deflection system to deflect the particulate away from the vehicle.