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General Overview

Type of stakeholder

EICS Framework

Region of Reference

Africa
Asia
Australia
Europe
North-America
South-America
World

Description

This intervention refers to the introduction of restrictions on the level of window tinting permitted on public transport and informal paratransit vehicles. The purpose of this restriction is to ensure that illicit activities onboard vehicles (including sexual harassment) are not concealed by dark-tinted windows [3].

The minimum recommended Visible Light Transmitted (VLT) for side windows is 70%, while front windshields should be free of tinting, and rear windshields should have a minimum VLT of 75% [3].

Facts/Illustrations/Case studies

In an effort to aid efforts to help identify terrorists (suspected to be concealing their identities by using vehicles with tinted windows) the Inspector General of Kenya’s Police Service gave the directive to impound all vehicles with tinted windows in 2014 (Matata, 2014). In 2017, in response to abductions of women and children by culprits posing as taxi drivers, Prime Minister Holness of Jamaica instructed law enforcement officers to ensure that all public passenger vehicles (taxis) had their tinting removed (Nation News, 2017).
Typical minibus taxi in Cape Town, South Africa with dark tinted windows (Source: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-10-11-minibus-taxis-time-to-form-co-operatives/)

Types of Impact

To/from the stop/station/rank✕
Waiting for train/bus/paratransit✕
In the vehicle✓
At interchanges✕

This intervention only targets the portion of travel on board the vehicle.

Day-time travel✓
Night-time travel✓
Peak-time travel✓
Off peak-time travel✓

All travel time categories could be positively impacted by this intervention.

Bus✓
Train✓
Rideshare✓
4 wheelers informal✓
3 wheelers informal✓
2 wheelers informal✕
Cycling✕
Walking✕

Only motorized modes of transport are impacted by this intervention. This intervention does not apply to informal two-wheelers.

Girls✓
Boys✓
Adult Women✓
Men✓
Elderly Women✓
LGBTQI+✓

All public transport users will be positively impacted by this intervention.

Resources

Monetary Resource Requirements
Retrofitting vehicles might be required, which would institute a moderate requirement for capital expenditure. Once the retrofits have been completed, there are no ongoing costs associated with this intervention. A targeted campaign to enforce this regulation might have low, short-term expenditures associated with it.
Capital Cost Requirements Operational Cost Requirements
Non-Monetary Resource Requirements
The level of skill required to implement this measure is low, and it can be done within a very short timeframe. As some vehicles might require a retrofit, firm political backing for this measure will be needed to get vehicle providers and owners to comply.
Skills Time Political Will

SWOT Analysis

Minimal cost to replace non-compliant film (not essential for the film to be reinstalled)
Requires minimal skills to remove and replace tinting film
Allows enforcement officers and the general public to be able to see more easily into vehicles

Window tinting and films do reduce heat gain in vehicles, and therefore in hot climates increased use of air-conditioning can result in decreased fuel efficiency (although there are films that still block UV rays and heat without blocking light)

Reduction in other criminal activities
Perpetrators can be eyewitnessed more easily, and victims rescued from the situation more easily

Some operators may not want to remove the non-compliant film
The legislation would need to be passed to enable enforcement

Effectiveness

Heavily tinted windows are problematic on public transport vehicles, especially in contexts where harassment and even abductions of women and children are prevalent since it is far less likely that passers-by will be able to see if occupants are in distress [3]. It is for this reason that some authorities have banned heavy tinting, or tinting films altogether [5].