Despite the Supreme Court’s directive against tinted vehicles last year and traffic police’s massive drive, one can still spot cars and buses with dark glasses. With the aim to get rid of black films on vehicles, the Union Road Ministry has now written to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), asking it to debar owners from claiming insurance for vehicles whose windows and windscreens are darker than the permissible limit.
According to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, there should be at least 70 per cent visual light transmission from windscreen and rear window. The percentage is at least 50 per cent for side windows. The decision is being taken to crackdown on vehicles which have a tint darker than it should, to curb crimes. Metrolife finds out will the
directive help?
Kapil Shrivastav, branch manager of a car insurance company, says if this regulation is imposed, the insurance companies will have to abide by it. “Keeping in view the current scenario and also from a safety point of view, this move appears good. Vehicle owners, especially who own private buses, will take the guideline related to tint more seriously. It won’t make any difference to insurance companies, who will have to follow the rule if imposed,” says Kapil.
On the other hand, Raj Kapoor, an insurance agent, says this move might not be as useful as it sounds. “What if a car owner meets with an accident and then removes the film of his vehicle to claim insurance? Also, some people are not at all bothered about whether they get the claim or not. The proposal prima facie, is good but those who don’t want to remove the tint of their vehicle won’t,” he points out.
Traffic police however, believes that it will ease their jobs to get car owners to comply with the SC’s judgement; even though support of other agencies is required. Anita Roy, Additional DCP, Traffic, says though there are not as many vehicles with tinted glasses now as compared to earlier. It is only cars and buses that have factory fitted dark tints which are still plying on the roads.
“We don’t have the infrastructure that can check the exact percentage of visual light transmission of factory-fitted tint on vehicles. So we are not able to take action against them. Some vehicles with dark tints belong to Army and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Our hands are tied there. So, if insurance is linked with tint on vehicles, it will definitely make our job easy,” she adds.
Lalit Kumar, a businessman and a car owner, feels differently. “Crimes happen even when there are no dark films on vehicles. The intention of the government is good. It will discourage people from using tint on their vehicles but what about the thefts that happen by breaking the windows of the car?” he asks.