Many fear crime rate will go up with darker windows

Going to the dark side: A worker installing a tinted window at a car services shop in Kuala Lumpur.

PETALING JAYA: While some lauded the move, many ordinary Malaysians are against the new regulations that allow motorists to have their rear windshields and passenger windows tinted as dark as they want.

They took to social media to express their concerns on road safety and crime, while some even urged the government to “think of the children”.

“Kidnappings, especially of children, will be rampant. The rear (windshield) should not be fully tinted,” said Sandy Gov.

Raymond Wong also expressed concerns about children left alone in cars.

“There are many cases of children being left in cars already. If it is 100% dark, the situation could be worse.

“There will be less opportunity for rescue if something happens,” he argued.

Others were concerned about road safety.

“With the increased number of SUVs, it’s very hard to see what’s further up in front or if we are approaching a standstill jam,” said Datsun Kuan on The Star’s Facebook page.

He was referring to the fact that drivers need to see beyond the rear windshield of the car in front of them to correctly judge traffic patterns.

“It’s already bad enough nowadays when you try reversing out in some parking lot when the car next to you has dark windows (in tall 4WDs/MPVs).

“Not being able to see oncoming cars while reversing is really dangerous, yet now it is being legalised?” noted David Palash.

Meanwhile, Lillian Yang had a pertinent point: “It kind of defeats the purpose of a third brake light. You won’t be able to see it on the cars in front of you.”

The responses were mirrored on Twitter.

“It is not too good for a cyclist like me – it would not be possible to see and read the intentions of drivers behind such heavily tinted screens, and it is thus dangerous,” tweeted @HerbWongMY.

Many were also deeply concerned that the new policy would allow more criminal activities to take place, such as car thefts and kidnappings.

Facebook user Chua Teck Boon said, “Criminals will take advantage and drive their stolen (vehicles) to commit crimes!”

However, some Malaysians got fully behind the new ruling, mainly because of the climate here.

One tweet read, “Good, because it’s really hot here in Malaysia,” while another Malaysian said it was a “good move (as) it does not compromise any public safety since only the rear parts are tinted”.