Why did the South Australian Government, and very quietly, introduce a vehicle standard that increases the hazard for cyclists? What can we
do about it?
On 1-Jan-2010 the degree of permitted window tinting of vehicles was increased in South Australia.
This is a poor decision in regards to cyclist safety. A cyclist will look
for people sitting in a parked car, to predict opening car doors, or
the driver pulling out without looking or indicating. At a stop sign
it is definitely useful if one sees that the driver has not looked in
the cyclist’s direction.
SAPOL has introduced Traffic Watch. When reporting, one is asked for a description of the driver. On
19-Dec-2009 a driver went through a red light, narrowly missing me.
The windows were so black I could not even see an outline of the
driver.
Window tinting is for aesthetic reasons and unnecessary, and should not have
priority over the safety of vulnerable road users. My sports glasses
are 100% UV but clear. They protect my eyes from the sun’s rays but
also insects and road rubbish at night.
Read the fact sheet MR 430 12/09 at

http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/pdfs/personal_transport/light_vehicles_pdfs/430_Window_Tinting_for_your_Motor_Vehicle.pdf