Dick Hannah Vancouver Collision Center

Is Car Window Tinting Really Dangerous?

Every day on the highway in Vancouver, you're bound to see someone cruise past with tinted windows on their car. Not only does the tint give a certian element of style to your vehicle, but there are several reasons why you might choose to tint your windows. Thieves are less likely to break into a car if they can't see inside; plus, there's an element of privacy from that nosy stranger who likes to stare during red lights. There are plenty of reasons why tinted windows can be an attractive option for car owners-- however, tinted windows can be potentiall quite dangerous. Even though many of us at Dick Hannah Vancouver Collision Center have tinted windows, there are plenty of factors to consider before you jump right into having the treatment put on your own car. 

One of the main safety issues posed by this practice has to do with, believe it or not, eye contact. You may want to avoid the lingering eye of the angry cab driver at the stop sign next to you, but you may also be avoiding the eye of a wary pedestrian looking to cross the street. Pedestrians and other drivers need to be able to see you in order to know how you'll behave-- whether it's to indicate the right of way, waving someone into traffic, or informing a pedestrian that your vehicle is stopping and it's safe to cross. Eye contact and even simply clear visibility of your hands and face can be as important as a turn signal in many situations. Excessive car window tinting acts as a barrier to these interactions. 

State laws generally regulate what is termed the "luminous reflectance" and  "light transmittance" of your vehicle's windows. These numbers will be expressed in the form of a percentage variance, with 100%  meaning that there is no tinting of any kind. 

If your vehicle's windows have tinting that could possibly be out of compliance, or if you are considering the purchase an already-tinted car, have the tinting checked out by a car inspection station or a highly-regarded aftermarket tinting firm. There often is no cost for this service, but a small fee is worth it if it means that you will avoid a future ticket by re-tinting your car windows. Sometimes it's great to ride in stealth mode with dark tinted windows-- but other times, it's better to abide by the law and stay safe. Whatever you decide, don't forget that all of us at Dick Hannah Vancouver Collision Center are here to help! 

Sources: Ask.com, Yahoo and USA Today