Rules on window tints should be more strictly enforced

Road safety experts and residents have said that blacking out a vehicle’s windows can be dangerous if taken to extremes, and that the official maximum tint of 30 per cent should not be exceeded.

Many shops around Abu Dhabi are offering to fit tinted sheets on vehicle windows that exceed the 30 per cent legal limit. Some shops offer tinting of up to 70 per cent. Lauren Lancaster / The National

ABU DHABI // Limits to the darkness of tinting on car windows should be more strictly enforced so that safety, not privacy or vanity, is the only consideration, experts say.

Road safety experts and many drivers have said that blacking out a vehicle’s windows can be dangerous if taken to extremes, and that the official maximum tint of 30 per cent should not be exceeded.

“A real practical consideration of what is reasonable in car tinting based on safety, not vanity, is needed,” said Andy Dean, the head of facade engineering at WSP, a management and consultancy company, who has lived and worked in the UAE for 18 years. “I know there are cultural issues but it’s all about being able to see through a car window.”

But Abdullah Al Maazmi, an Emirati university student, said he hoped authorities would allow car windows to be made darker.

In addition to keeping a car’s interior cool, window tints provided a sense of privacy, the 18-year-old said. “It’s basically for privacy, especially for the women in the family.”

The penalty for exceeding the permitted tint level is a Dh500 fine with the vehicle impounded for 30 days, according to the Ministry of Interior.

“It needs to be strictly enforced because there are plenty of cars out there with windows so heavily tinted that they’re like a big black box,” Mr Dean said.

Road Safety UAE founder Thomas Edelmann said being able to see and being seen were essential while on the road.

“It’s a vital pillar of road safety and it must not be compromised,” he said. “If you get into a car with a high tint at night it’s very difficult to see unlit objects and, in particular, I’m most worried about pedestrians.”

Heavily tinted glass is also regarded as a serious public safety issue.

“I work with glass so I work with shading on glass and with tinting of glass, so obviously I notice it,” said Mr Dean.

“I understand the principles of light transmission, reflections, those kinds of things.”

But people continue to have their car windows tinted in excess of the legal level because of carelessness, a lack of enforcement, ignorance and not knowing that high levels of tinting endanger drivers and road users.

“High levels of tinting mean that whoever is inside the vehicle can do anything without being noticed, such as using a mobile phone, doing indecent acts or illegal activities.”

Many shops in the capital offer to fit tinted sheets that exceed the legal limit on car windows.

Saif Mohammed, who runs a car accessories shop in Al Nahyan Camp area, said 40 per cent of his customers, mostly Emiratis, requested that their windows be darkened beyond the legal limit. The rest, however, opted to go for a 30 per cent tint so as not to risk a fine. “We offer 10 to 70 per cent tint,” he said. “We know it’s dangerous when driving at night, but what can we do if they want 70 per cent?”

A shop manager in Mussaffah, who asked not to be identified, said he was aware of the legislation on tinting. The shop sells tints from 10 to 70 per cent.

“Most locals prefer the 70 per cent tint because they want some privacy,” said the manager. “We also believe that the higher the darkness of the filter the higher the rejection of the heat, especially during the summer.”

Mr Dean said there was an obvious correlation between intimidation and window tint.

“You’re driving down the street and the big 4x4 with blacked-out windows comes up behind you, driving at an incredibly dangerous distance, flashes at you and you’re trying to pull out of the way as fast as you can,” he said.

“One of the aspects here is anonymity. The driver has no need to feel the slightest bit concerned about who he is and what he had just done.”