The JPJ is preparing a nationwide blitz against cars with heavily tinted windscreens and windows, which is I completely disagree to. It is understandable that heavily tinted vehicles conceal the identity of drivers and passengers, hence, inducing crime; in addition, it poses a threat to drivers under rainy or dark conditions. While safety and health were the underlying impetus for this policy, there are valid counter arguments why many still resort to such measures.
One such reason is the change in weather conditions over the recent years. While global warming has begun to exert its catastrophic effects on many countries, including Malaysia, it has caused the temperatures to soar to unprecedented levels. While one should take into account the irritability and distraction of driving under the stifling heat, a heavier tint on windscreens and windows of a vehicle significantly reduces the sun's glare and prevents heat from entering the vehicle. The former ensures a more comfortable and stress-free driving experience and, as a result, reduces road accidents. While the latter decreases carbon emission through lower use of air-conditioning.
It is also noteworthy that the JPJ director-general Datuk Ahmad Mustaph raised a dubious point in the statement. On one hand, heavily-tinted windscreens and windows pose a hazard to other road-users, especially during rainy days or at night, but on the other, the rules can be relaxed on VIP vehicles and those with official exemptions, such as for safety or health reasons.
What can be construed is that, while VIPs enjoy these privileges in the name of safety and health reasons, is it equitable for the government to practice double standards and deprive the rest of society equal entitlements? Ironically, while the VIPs comprise of the government, whom knows little of the average Malaysian, they make laws which affect the nation. This is both contradictory and inconsistent with the fundamental aims of the policy.
The JPJ should not execute a nationwide blitz against cars with heavily-tinted windscreens and windows because it defeats the whole purpose of the aim - safety and health. Heavy tinting help reduce road accidents, anxiety, skin cancer, heatstrokes, astigmatism and so forth. By restricting heavy tinting suggests the increased likelihood of the aforementioned consequences. It should also be noted that laws should be flexible, and as such, it has to progress with social, economic and environmental developments. The law in this situation as it currently stands, is unrepresentative, inappropriate and unadaptable to the changing needs of society.
One such reason is the change in weather conditions over the recent years. While global warming has begun to exert its catastrophic effects on many countries, including Malaysia, it has caused the temperatures to soar to unprecedented levels. While one should take into account the irritability and distraction of driving under the stifling heat, a heavier tint on windscreens and windows of a vehicle significantly reduces the sun's glare and prevents heat from entering the vehicle. The former ensures a more comfortable and stress-free driving experience and, as a result, reduces road accidents. While the latter decreases carbon emission through lower use of air-conditioning.
It is also noteworthy that the JPJ director-general Datuk Ahmad Mustaph raised a dubious point in the statement. On one hand, heavily-tinted windscreens and windows pose a hazard to other road-users, especially during rainy days or at night, but on the other, the rules can be relaxed on VIP vehicles and those with official exemptions, such as for safety or health reasons.
What can be construed is that, while VIPs enjoy these privileges in the name of safety and health reasons, is it equitable for the government to practice double standards and deprive the rest of society equal entitlements? Ironically, while the VIPs comprise of the government, whom knows little of the average Malaysian, they make laws which affect the nation. This is both contradictory and inconsistent with the fundamental aims of the policy.
The JPJ should not execute a nationwide blitz against cars with heavily-tinted windscreens and windows because it defeats the whole purpose of the aim - safety and health. Heavy tinting help reduce road accidents, anxiety, skin cancer, heatstrokes, astigmatism and so forth. By restricting heavy tinting suggests the increased likelihood of the aforementioned consequences. It should also be noted that laws should be flexible, and as such, it has to progress with social, economic and environmental developments. The law in this situation as it currently stands, is unrepresentative, inappropriate and unadaptable to the changing needs of society.
