A QUICK check on the web indicates that road accidents in Japan took 7,702 lives in 2003 (a mere 0.002 per cent of a population of 128 million). In Singapore, the number of fatal accidents reported in 2005 was 172 (0.004 per cent of a population of 4.6 million).

In Malaysia, this number was 6,000 in 2004 (a whopping 0.02 per cent of the population). One really needs to ask the reasons for this, given our supposedly world-class road infrastructure.

Obviously, in view of the bad press on express buses, the public would most likely pin the blame on the high number of reckless bus drivers, or maybe Malaysia’s high percentage of motorcyclists.

I believe most accidents occur because of fatigue and lack of discipline on the road — for example, tailgating and not keeping a safe distance from the car in front, among others.

But those who think that cars get involved in collisions caused by tailgaters because the drivers in front are unable to see properly through the tinted rear windscreens obviously have not put enough thought into their arguments.

Do not get me wrong, I do not have heavily tinted windows, which I agree may pose a risk. But I think that the current ruling of 50-70 per cent light penetration for side and rear windscreens needs serious review considering the amount of glare and heat experienced on hot sunny afternoons.

If there is a connection between tinted rear windscreens and the road accident rate, look again at the case of Japan. Japan supplies most of our imported or reconditioned vehicles and most of these imports come fitted with tinted rear windscreens.

Yet road accidents and fatalities in Japan are a far cry from that in Malaysia. Similarly, Singapore too has a better track record in terms of accidents and population.

A simple conclusion can be drawn that tinting is irrelevant to the number of road accidents and accident fatalities.

In fact, I believe the majority of Malaysians think that tinting brings greater benefits not only by filtering out the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays but also reducing the amount of petrol wasted for additional cooling of the vehicle.

I think Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat ought to be hailed as a dynamic minister for reviewing the decision on enforcing the rules on tinted windscreens in cars.

K.L. LOW, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – July 9, 2008