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| ‘Lighten
Up’ - Windscreen Warning |
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Tinting
your car windows is a quick and cheap way of customizing your vehicle.
It makes the car look sleek and it also provides an amount of security
if possible thieves cannot see in. Some manufacturers are even producing
cars with the rear windows already tinted with this in mind. They
do not however supply cars with the front windows tinted, with good
reason, because there is legislation preventing this.
However aftermarket tints can be bought which if used incorrectly
can breach this legislation. The law states that any tint must allow
at least 70% of the light to pass through them. There are obvious
reasons for this of course. If you cannot see clearly through your
windows then you might not be able to see that cyclist, pedestrian
etc. especially at night.
VOSA has spent £13,000 providing light meters for roadside checks.
If the meter detects between 45% and 65% of light getting through
then you would be asked to remove the tint, failing to do so could
result in a £2000 fine. If the meter says 30% to 45% the vehicle
is deemed unfit for the road and a delayed prohibition is issued
leaving 10 days to remove the tint. Less than 30% and the vehicle
cannot be moved until the tint is removed.
However there have been cases of people being caught without the
aid of a meter. The law says that an officer can issue an immediate
prohibition if he deems the tint to be dark in his opinion. This
however has to Obvious. This still seems like a grey area as the
resulting proceeding would be depend on the amount of light that
does get through and without a meter this would be inaccurate.
What is excessively tinted glass?
Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 as amended specify
the minimum levels of light that must pass through the windscreen
and front side windows.
The limits are:
Motor Vehicles first used before 1 April 1985:
The windscreen and front side windows must allow at least 70% of
light to be transmitted through them.
Motor Vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1985:
The light transmitted through the windscreen must be at least 75%.
The front side windows must allow at least 70% of light to be transmitted
through them.
If the glass is tinted to a point whereby it lets through less light,
then the vehicle does not meet legal requirements.
Which windows in the vehicle does this apply to?
The windscreen and the front side windows to either side of the
drivers' head.
How does excessively tinted glass affect road safety?
It restricts the driver's vision, especially in dark conditions.
This
may prevent drivers from seeing other road users or pedestrians.
It also prevents other road users and pedestrians from confirming
through eye contact that they have been seen.
What is the purpose of the law?
The purpose of the law is to ensure the drivers' ability to see
the
road is not excessively restricted by glass tint.
Legally where do I stand?
If you are the driver -
- You must not drive a vehicle on the road with the windscreen or
front side windows excessively tinted. You may also invalidate your
insurance with this modification, particularly as the vehicle
is likely to be illegal.
If you are a tinting company -
- You must not modify, or offer to supply, a part that when fitted
to a vehicle means that it does not comply with Construction & Use
Regulations.
If you're selling a vehicle with extra tinting applied to
the windscreen or front side windows -
- The vehicle may now have glass that is darker than permitted by
Construction & Use regulations, in which case the vehicle should
not be sold.
Why are tinted windows not included in the MOT test?
Excessively tinted glass is seen as a serious issue but one which
currently affects only a small number of the 24 million vehicles
tested annually. To include this item in the MOT test would require
all 18,000 garages to incur expenditure on special test equipment
and the time taken to carry out an MOT would increase. The MOT fee
would have to be raised to cover the extra time and investment.
This extra cost would affect all motorists - all for a small number
of vehicles. With the current levels of offending, roadside enforcement
is a better route as it targets the offenders while minimising the
cost and inconvenience to compliant road users.
Is this a nationwide campaign?
Yes. VOSA staff throughout the country have been issued with testing
equipment. If the equipment is not available, a subjective assessment
will be carried out. If the vehicle is considered dangerous to drive
then an immediate prohibition may be issued.
| ‘Lighten
Up’ - Windscreen Warning |
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Officers
in Calderdale have been taking a dim view of people with tinted
windows.
Checks have been carried out in the district on vehicles with tinted
windows to make sure that the glass is not darkened beyond the point
where the drivers ability to see the road becomes restricted.
“We are aware that some travelling criminals use vehicles with heavily
tinted glass so as not to be recognised,” said Sgt Garry Alderson
of Calderdale Road Traffic Department. “We wanted to deny these
criminals the use of the road as well as have a positive effect
on road safety.”
"Glass that is heavily tinted can present a real danger. Tinted
glass restricts the ability of a motorist to obtain a clear view
of the conditions outside their vehicle, particularly when it’s
dark. It is vital that a driver can, at all times, see pedestrians
and other vehicles. Furthermore, those who drive behind tinted windows
have reduced eye contact with others, they cannot confirm that they
have seen you, which is another potential hazard.”
The law concerning tinted windows applies to the front windscreen
and also to the two front side windows on either side of the driver.
For vehicles registered after April 1985 the front windscreen must
have at least 75% light transmission through it, whilst the side
windows must allow 70% in. For vehicles registered prior to 1985
the figure is 70% for both the windscreen and the front side windows.
“Most vehicles these days do come with a small amount of tinting
as standard,” continued Sgt Alderson. “This means that you don’t
have to add too much extra for it to become illegal.”
“As well as the issue of safety there is also the fact that any
modification to a vehicle, that alters the standard to which it
was manufactured, could render the insurance invalid if the insurance
company are not notified - so you could also find that you are not
covered. Also, window tinting is not currently included in an MOT,
there are steps being taken to incorporate it in the future, but
you could find yourself with a car that has passed its MOT but is
still not road legal.”
Officers have been stopping vehicles throughout Calderdale over
the summer to check windscreens with the ‘Pocket Detective - Window
Tint Meter’.
“It is an American system which runs off a 9 volt battery,” explained
Sgt Alderson. “It is extremely easy to use. The base system slides
onto the window, you push a button, a laser reads the tint measurement
and the reading is displayed. If the light reading comes up as less
than 30% then we tend to prosecute. If it is between 30% and 70%
then the driver is cautioned and given the opportunity to remove
the tinting there and then. We always test the base unit with calibrated
glass before we use it so that we know it is working accurately.”
Officers arrested a disqualified driver on the first day of using
the system at the end of July this summer. Since then a further
2 disqualified drivers have been arrested, 13 drivers have been
reported for summons, 28 verbal warnings have been given and 11
fixed penalty notices issued. A number of uninsured vehicles have
also been seized and extra intelligence has been gathered about
travelling criminals.
Sgt Alderson is currently informing local West Yorkshire companies,
who offer a glass tinting service, of their responsibilities. A
leaflet, produced by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
which sets out all the regulations, is being supplied so there are
no excuses for ignorance.
Information courtesy of http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk |
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