WINDOW TINTING TO FRONT AUTO WINDOWS

Due to irresponsible marketeers and individuals fitting excessively dark and poor quality window films to driver and front passenger windows, the Authorities have found it necessary to eradicate this practice.

Excessively tinted front windows have always been discouraged by us and other responsible professional tinting companies and to clarify the situation the Department for Transport have amended the legislation.

It is sad to say that it is due to the heavy marketing by the suppliers of some window films to offer window tinting as an add-on to an existing businesses, e.g. car audio specialists, car body shops, window cleaners etc., who have been irresponsible in installing dark, poor quality films. The action now being taken by the Government follows a fatality that recently occurred where a heavily tinted car with “black film applied to the front windows” was in collision with a motor cycle. The degree of tinting to the front windows were held to blame (5% Visible Light Transmission low cost dyed film), due to the vision of the car driver being impaired in night-time conditions.

There is a recognised distinction and scientifically documented difference between light, high quality window tints, which are completely safe for road use in any conditions (as may have been installed by us) and poor quality excessively dark tints, which are dangerous and impair vision. The latter are morally wrong and should be banned. We have always worked with the Police to assist them in this regard.

Scientific Experts and Department for Transport studies have confirmed that light tints do actually advance and improve road safety, and these are approved and used in many countries around the world. Indeed, applying proper Risk Assessment and Health & Safety Law, light safety films should be used to reduce risk from injury and therefore any liability.

This new approach poses an immediate problem for legitimate users of light tints to their front windows. This includes many who have installed their tint on advice from healthcare professionals to help manage health problems such as cancer in its many forms, and other problems caused or aggravated by excessive heat and ultra violet light, which window tint both reduces and blocks.

1-2Tint.com are concerned not to be ‘tarred with the same brush’ and have always sought to ensure that the tints we install are both safe for everyday road use and acceptable within the Road Traffic Act, (Regulation 30 ‘Vision’ paragraph 3). This is why, over the last decade, our practice has been accepted by road safety groups and police authorities alike. These have accepted this issue as a ‘technicality’ and have always targeted DIY tints and rogue ‘cowboy’ installers. This follows similar practices that have existed in other countries such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand, where light tints above prescribed levels of visible light transmission are employed and accepted as being safe and are used by the Authorities concerned.

It is most regrettable that, after much effort over many years, and as responsible professionals trying to get our industry to regulate itself, new legislation has been employed to enforce new practices. This will require that front window tint, previously considered acceptable, will now require removal or replacement.

To accomplish this professionally, without damaging glass we will be pleased to help, by arrangement, and for a nominal charge. Removal can be carried out while you wait (by appointment) and replacement made with a suitable film.

Our efforts to influence a change in legislation will continue so that a reasonable level of window tint can be enjoyed as is permitted in other parts of the world, where the many benefits are fully appreciated. We feel strongly as motorists that we should be able to advance the level of road safety, security and comfort in our vehicles, provided that this does not compromise road safety in worst case conditions, 24 hours a day. Certainly under Health & Safety Laws and also Human Rights Laws, a driver and front passengers should be entitled to have the highest safety standards protecting them whilst driving their vehicles at work or at leisure.

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