Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Not being able to see who is driving next to you could make you more cautious on the roads, as you may assume that the other driver is reckless and irresponsible.
Currently, motorists who want to use excessive tinting require special permission from the traffic department. Recently, the Ministry of Interior announced that it is considering imposing a ban on excessive window tinting and reflective paint on cars in order to secure the safety of motorists.
If the new proposal is approved the traffic department will stop issuing such permission. Those who were earlier given permission will have to get their tints removed.
In a recent Gulf News poll, 64 per cent of respondents tint their car while 36 per cent said they do not.
City Talk took to the streets and asked residents whether they tint their car windows, if they think it can affect the quality and safety of driving and if it should be banned.
Abdul Aziz Jasem, Emirati businessman, 29, said: "I do not like it but my wife and sisters like to have privacy while they are in the car, so all the cars at home have tinted windows except mine. It should not be banned because everyone has their own preferences, especially women. Tinted windows are very good to have during the summer because it protects you from the heat and the reflection off the roads."
Mohammad Al Iftimat, Jordanian teacher, 30, said: "Window tinting is a necessity here as we have lots of sunshine. I have tinted my car too. But if it exceeds the allowed limit then it can be too dangerous. I have seen many people with very dark tints and wondered how they have good visibility of the roads. I feel excessive tinting would affect the driving of a person and that puts the lives of others on the road at risk. The police must strictly enforce the fines for violators."
Mohammad Rich, A Syrian head of media, 63, said: "I think tinting of car windows should be banned completely. This would be the only effective way to [ensure] the safety of all road users. I have not tinted my car windows and never felt the need to. In cases [where] people use too much tinting then their driving would definitely suffer."
Rana Haddad, Jordanian IT professional, 26, said: "Car tinting should not be banned on the whole, because it is helpful when used within safe limits. Tints help keep the temperature within the car low, which is important, especially in summer. I believe 30 per cent tinting is what is allowed by the law. It is when people exceed this limit that the problem arises."
Hakim Moledina, performance analyst, Canadian, 34, said: "It is dangerous because it is harder to see through, especially at night. But I think that people like to tint their windows because of the heat, and during the day you can see fine with the tint. The reflective ones though are very dangerous. So while it should not be banned completely, they should give a limit as to what is allowed or not."
Nicholas Siljebrand, a tourist from Sweden, 23, said: "It absolutely is unsafe to use heavy tints for cars. The police must actively fine vehicles that cross the permitted limits to deter people from using it. I feel a person's driving will be affected if the car is tinted too darkly."
Michele Boffa, 33-year-old surveyor, Italy, said: "I have tinted car windows and feel completely safe while driving. It is very comfortable to have during the day but at night it can be dangerous if the tint is too dark. Authorities should not ban it completely but they should make sure that people do not put more than ... the maximum of a 30 per cent tint."
