Bothered by headlight glare and thinking of getting tinted windows? You'll want to watch this first
Marketplace test found misaligned headlights may be part of the problem, but there’s a fix
At Marketplace, we get a lot of viewer mail, but comments about tinted windows have been flooding our inbox lately.
They're a tricky subject. The laws vary across the country, and experts say that tints can disrupt visibility and lead to dangerous driving, especially at night when many accidents happen.
The only uniform law regarding tinted windows across all provinces is that drivers must be able to see out the front window. Laws covering other aspects of tints vary among the provinces.
In Ottawa, where police say they issued 566 tickets last year for tinted windows that were too dark or on the windshield, officers want more consistent laws. Sgt. Mark Gatien would like to see Quebec's rules, which say tints must let in at least 70 per cent of light, become standard across the country.
Some drivers told Marketplace they got tinted windows to reduce headlight glare they found blinding from other vehicles.
The U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested headlights in new cars right off the assembly line, and found around 50 per cent are misaligned and could be causing glare. Regular wear and tear can also cause misalignment.
Experts showed Marketplace how those misaligned headlights are often aiming directly in the eyes of passing drivers, rather than shining toward the road. They also showed us how to get those headlights fixed.
To see how drivers fared when we took them to a track to put their tinted windows to the test, and learn why headlight glare seems to be getting worse, watch our full investigation:
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