Tinted windows warning to drivers

Cars with tinted windows could be taken off the road by inspectors with light-meters in a nationwide road safety crackdown, it emerged today.

Spot checks will be carried out on cars to see if they comply with legal regulations stating that the front screen must let in 75% of light, while the side must let in 70%. Some areas of Britain already have light testers and now inspectors will be available to test tinted windows across the country.

Vehicle inspectors could make prohibition orders against unfit vehicles, requiring cars to be towed away. Drivers would then have to get the necessary adjustments done before having them verified at a test station.

A spokeswoman for the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) said: "Many drivers do not realise that their vision is significantly impaired when looking through tinted glass and are often unaware that heavy tinted glass is illegal.

"If the windows are found to be over the legal limit, the vehicle will be prohibited and cannot be driven until the tint is removed."

Last year, a motorcyclist died in North Wales after a Citroen driver who had tinted windows allegedly failed to see the other vehicle.

Max Herd