During the decision-making process of whether or not to invest in window tinting Swansea, it is crucial to understand certain things about window tint films. Apart from knowing the window tint film benefits and the types of automotive window films, you also need to know that window tint films have different darkness levels.
Window tint films have different visible light transmission (VLT) percentages. This is the amount of visible light that passes through the tinted windows. The lower the VLT percentage, the darker the film. While dark window tints may seem like great investments for people who want to improve their vehicle’s aesthetics and privacy, these can pose dangers to the vehicle owner or driver and other people on the road.
Here are four reasons why you should avoid darker tints:
Reduces Visual Performance
Too dark window tints can significantly reduce your visual performance when driving at night or in places with low lighting conditions like tunnels. This can be dangerous not only to you but also to other people – drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians.
When your level of visibility is reduced, it may be difficult for you to notice road signs and other road details that might be critical to traffic safety.
Limits Ability to Make Signals
Drivers not only communicate with other motorists and pedestrians through vehicle signal lights or car horn sounds, but they also make eye contact with or gestures to people who they share the road with, when:
- Changing lanes
- Letting pedestrians know it is safe to cross the road
- Waving someone into traffic or letting another driver
However, communicating with other drivers through eye contact and hand motions may be challenging if you have too dark window tints. Consequently, people outside your vehicle will not see your signals – this may create misunderstandings, which often cause people on the road to not give and take, or worse, result in an accident.
Hinders Police or Rescue Operations
Before the police and rescue and medical personnel take action after a car accident or collision, they first assess the situation. This includes determining the number of people inside the vehicle/s, the condition of driver/s and passengers involved, and whether hazards inside can impede the rescue operation.
However, if your car is excessively tinted, rescue personnel will not be able to peer inside your vehicle and gather all information they need to create an action plan, such as how to move you out and away from your vehicle based on your condition – impairments, head trauma, minor cuts, bruises, or broken bones.
Puts You on the Wrong Side of the Law
While car window tinting is practically allowed, there are specific legal requirements in Britain that you must follow. The Government in the United Kingdom has imposed stringent window tinting laws to ensure road safety and protect law enforcers, drivers, and pedestrians.
Generally, the UK window tinting law stipulates that tint films used on the front windshield should let a minimum of 75% visible light through, and tints for front side windows should have at least 70% VLT. These specific percentages must be followed to ensure that driver visibility is not obscured.
Installing window tints that do not meet the legal VLT limit can put you on the wrong side of the law. The police or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) serve as vehicle examiners and use light measuring equipment to measure car window tints.
If they find that your car tints are over the darkness percentage limit, you could be issued with a prohibition notice. This means that you will not be able to use your vehicle until you remove the tints or replace them with films that comply with legal window tinting criteria.
Moreover, you may also be served with a vehicle defect rectification notice if your windows are illegally tinted but close to the legal darkness percentage limit. With this type of notice, you will be required to provide evidence to the police that the illegal window tints have been removed.
In extreme cases, like the window tints do not meet legal requirements and are installed illegally, you may be served with a penalty notice or even a court summons.
Where can you have window tints installed?
If you are looking for a reputable company that will help you ensure your window tints meet legal requirements stated under UK laws, you could always go to Global Tint.
Global Tint is one of the reliable window tinting companies in the United Kingdom that offers car tinting in Ipswich and other UK locations. We also provide our customers with a level of excellence and superior service in caring, maintaining, and installing window tints. If you wish for a free quote today, you may contact us at 0800-158-8005 or visit our website at https://globaltint.co.uk/.
References
https://www.rvinyl.com/pros-and-cons-of-dark-tint
https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-car-window-tint-can-get-dangerous
https://www.gov.uk/tinted-vehicle-window-rules
https://www.gov.uk/stopped-by-police-while-driving-your-rights/faults-with-your-vehicle
