Tinted windows can affect safety

Enforcing rules on car tints will lead to the easier enforcement of other traffic rules

Workers apply tinted film to a car. Lauren Lancaster / The National

The decision to increase the legal level of tinting on car windows from 30 per cent to 50 per cent may have seemed unusual to those of us who are concerned about road safety. As The National reported yesterday, safety education experts say that the darker the tint, the harder it becomes for police to see whether drivers are flouting other road rules, such as not wearing a seat belt, using their phones while driving, or not ensuring that children are strapped in safely. There are also security concerns about cars with heavy tinting.

But considering the context of the UAE, the increase in allowable tint could actually be a positive step towards enforcing the rules of the road. Car-window tinting has become part of the culture, in that many people have it done automatically without considering the legal or safety implications. Tint shop managers say that people buy the 70 per cent tint for various reasons, including privacy concerns and the belief that darker tints keep them cooler during hot months. However, road-safety educator Robert Hodges says that there are quality clear tints that also have 100 per cent heat rejection.

Whatever reason is given, it isn’t good enough to warrant breaking laws that were put in place to protect the lives of drivers, passengers and other road users. A road is a public space where the rules have to apply to everyone, even if it means having less privacy in one’s car. This is a situation where the greater good must prevail.

Having said that, increasing the legal level of tinting to 50 per cent from 30 per cent will make it easier for people to comply. Simultaneously increasing the fine for exceeding the permitted tint level, from Dh500 fine to Dh1,500, will hopefully help force a cultural shift. But car accessory and tinting shops should also be accountable if they sell or instal illegal tints. Cutting off the supply is an important part of ensuring the law is adhered to.

Enforcing this particular rule should be a priority because it will make it easier for police to enforce other traffic rules and make our roads safer.