The Ministry of Transportation and Communications on Friday said it would review standards for window insulation films on cars to address complaints that they are too dark and have a low light transmission percentage (LTP), and that they are partly responsible for increasing traffic incidents.
After consulting domestic public opinion polling data and reviewing foreign regulations, the ministry is looking at setting the LTP front windshield regulation at 70 percent, and the driver and passenger windows at 35 percent LTP, Minister of Transportation and Communication Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said.
Rear side windows would remain unregulated, he said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Most drivers install window insulation films — usually with an LTP of less than 40 percent — to shield their car’s interior from the summer heat or to have more privacy, Chen said, citing data collected by the ministry.
However, this results in low visibility, especially at night, and many consider them to be the primary culprit behind increased traffic incidents at night, he added.
The ministry said it would discuss new safety standards with auto dealers and film manufacturers, with a view to them taking effect next month.
The ministry plans to roll out the standards nationwide within three to six months of introduction, it said, adding that it intends to purchase additional equipment for car owners to test the films.
Separately, the ministry said it plans to increase the intervals between the stop line and pedestrian crossings by 1m to better protect pedestrians.
Current regulations set the interval at between 1m and 3m, but tall vehicles create the issue of blind spots, Department of Railways, Highways and Road Safety Deputy Director-General Huang Yun-kui (黃運貴) said.
The current regulations are similar to those in Japan, while other countries set the minimum interval at 3m, he said, adding that the ministry would consult with experts to discuss the increase.
Provided there is consensus, the ministry would move to draft amendments on the issue, he said.
Chen also said that improvement in road lighting would be needed.
The ministry would prioritize road lighting for provincial highways — especially for crossings — and change the lightbulbs from yellow lights to white lights to maximize brightness, he said.
The ministry expects to swap the lights for seven to 10 crossings by April, and if the results are favorable, would expand the project to more than 400 locations, he added.
Chen said the ministry has its work cut out to achieve this goal and would review and reset its priorities yearly.
Asked about the government reaching its goal of a 7 percent yearly reduction in traffic injuries and mortality rates, Chen said it was unlikely.
Reducing traffic mortalities and injuries would take some time, and initial measures would not have significant effects, he said.
However, gradually, through improvements in infrastructure, education, and habits, the rates of mortalities and injuries would go down, he added.
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