[Aditya]

The Supreme Court of India banned the use of sun films in cars back in 2012. This was not a great move since most of India has hot weather and sees a strong sun throughout the day.

Ever since the ban was enforced, people have been coming up with various ways of keeping out the harsh sun from the cabins of their cars. In some cases, car manufacturers have provided some solutions. For instance, Tata, Skoda, and other manufacturers provide retractable sunshades for the rear windows.


BMW and other luxury carmakers equip their cars with retractable sunshades for the rear windshields as well. Maruti provides green UV cut glasses on the cars sold through the Nexa channel.


Then come the aftermarket fittings. We get magnetic sunshades and those with rubber suckers. People have applied these to both the rear windows and front windows of their cars. These have been around for many years. Now, the latest trend among car owners to block the sun is adding curtains in cars. This is an extremely effective way of keeping the sun out, but there is a downside - and it's a dangerous one.

While sunshades offer some degree of visibility, curtains are opaque. One cannot see through them. They affect all-round visibility while driving. Still, one might get away with installing curtains if they cover the rear windows only. However, many car owners install them at the front as well. Drawn curtains on the front windows are a recipe for disaster. They block the view out of the windows, making things dangerous while changing lanes or entering junctions and roundabouts, even if the ORVMs are not blocked.


Even with the curtains open, they are never really folded within the width of the pillars. In fact, they only add to the blind spot caused by the pillars.

Image Source

Over the months, I have noticed an increase in the number of cars with such curtains. I have had a few close calls with such cars on the roads as their drivers' vision was hampered.

Coming to the law, the ban on sun films was enforced on account of rising crimes. It became difficult to catch criminals who hid themselves behind heavily tinted glasses. From that perspective, opaque curtains are far worse. The police (at least in Mumbai) do not seem to be bothered even when it's obvious that driving a car with such curtains is far more dangerous than driving one with sun film. There have been reports of the police cracking down on such curtains in the past from other parts of the country though. After all, anything that obstructs the view from inside of the car and also the view of the inside of the car is illegal.

In my opinion, we were much better off using sunfilms than curtains. Do share your thoughts.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

[IamNikhil]

Totally agree with you. Curtains are a sureshot recipe for disaster. Earlier it was only the VIP vehicles which were seen with curtains to block the view through the windows. However, even I have recently seen a lot of regular cars in Mumbai sporting these curtains; some black, some white, some beige.

Very disturbing trend really. Personally prefer removable sun-shades along with basic heat-resistant sunfilm on all windows.

Expect the cops to start cracking down again and due to that, even those of us with removable sun-shades will face the brunt unnecessarily!

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by Aditya

In my opinion, we were much better off using sunfilms than curtains. Do share your thoughts.

I remember (80's 90's) when my Dad had a Government Ambassador car, it had white curtains all around except the front windshield. And all his colleagues car's had similar curtains.

However, I'm yet to notice a car with curtains on front windshield. If that's what people are upto, then it’s simply crazy and waiting for the disaster to happen.

The manufacturer of the vehicle may manufacture the vehicles with tinted glasses which have Visual Light Transmission (VLT) of safety glasses windscreen (front and rear) as 70 per cent VLT and side glasses as 40 per cent VLT, respectively. No black film or any other material can be pasted on the windscreens and side glasses of a vehicle

[ninjatalli]

Fair concern but a few thoughts

1. I have only noticed rear window shades/curtains/covers. The only place where I have seen double sets of curtains are government cars (ambassadors) and that too years ago.

2. The vehicles with dark tints had them on all windows including (thankfully a lower shade) for the front and rear glass frames. Still see a few cars with dark tints; especially in rural setups. But significantly reduced.

3. A lot of drivers keep the side view mirrors closed. For a very long time, cars used to come with only one side view mirror (2nd one was to be purchased iirc). Many drivers don't know how to use the side-view mirrors efficiently.

4. On a similar note, I also find the rear mirrors blocked with stuff (e.g. a line of colorful "flags" that one gets in Himalayan areas or toys, etc.). What's the use of having a rear-view mirror, I'd say.

Honestly, I wouldn't stress too much about this. In the end, the driver can and will do mistakes irrespective of how his/her car is setup.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by Aditya

In my opinion, we were much better off using sunfilms than curtains. Do share your thoughts.

I'll be frank about this. I like to call a spade a spade. The Government authorities and the Judiciary - ARE STUPID. Period. There is no justification for this insane ban on sunfilms.

1. The criminals / criminals masquerading as leaders - are still running around freely with nearly 100% black dark films all around including front windshields. There is no way a criminal is going to stop crime due to this ban on films. Its bringing safety to nobody, women included.
   
2. Its just the honest tax paying citizen and his / her infant or toddler who is suffering under the burning hot Sun / UV rays, exposing us to potential serious health hazards in future. It is also putting excessive strain on air conditioning, causing extra green house gas emissions in turns.

The way the regulation is - even a 100% transparent film if applied - makes you a felon! There is no regulation about the transparency etc. At the same time - its about films - no regulation about curtains or towels or whatever else people will put on the windows. How stupid does one have to be to not think of all this? Its very similar to the Sub4M rule - that restricts engine displacements, not engine power outputs .

Its laughable to see that this thing is being used for generating traffic challan revenue. I never really had faith that the authorities have public welfare in their plans, but these kind of whimsical decisions depress me further because it means we are being governed by / judged by absolute idiots! My child has to suffer under the Sun in traffic jams - because some uneducated person with no common sense, holds an office of authority.

[naveen.raju]

I havent seen these curtains on private vehicles here although light/dark sun films and magnetic shades are common here. I don't understand how these guys drive around with this. I used to have super dark films on my Swift (all around including the front windshield) before the ban and it was a nightmare during the night.

I agree anything that blocks the view is super dangerous. I used to have magnetic shades full time on rear windows but used it on front windows only during long drives. Use a pretty good transparent film and you can get rid of the shades.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

I'll be frank about this. I like to call a spade a spade. The Government authorities and the Judiciary - ARE STUPID. Period. There is no justification for this insane ban on sunfilms.

Not in disagreement with you but a different perspective.

How about we ask our better half which sort of cab she would prefer to hail a ride in, one with dark tints or one with normal glass?

Its a perception that is difficult to argue against because the sunfilm ban judgement is associated with a crime, one that is a blot on our civic society.

Although there are many vehicles made even today that does not have good AC, my personal experience dealing with sunfim \ sunshade etc is that if the vehicle has an inadequate AC system, nothing helps. Once the interior is heat soaked - you need a good sized compressor , blower, vents etc to remove heat from inside to outside, nothing else will work.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Not in disagreement with you but a different perspective.

How about we ask our better half which sort of cab she would prefer to hail a ride in, one with dark tints or one with normal glass?

Its a perception that is difficult to argue against because the sunfilm ban judgement is associated with a crime, one that is a blot on our civic society.

My better half would like to be in her car with a sensibly reflective sun-film first. It also ensures her own privacy & aids safety. When getting in a cab - she'd be able to decide whether to get in the cab or not based on the films on. Or - the government should put a restriction about transparency. Or - the government should ban sunfilms on transport vehicles / cabs.

Rape in itself - is one of the worst crimes (if not the worst) that a human can commit. It is already a crime that warrants stringent punishments as per IPC. Does that stop people from committing rape? No! I sincerely doubt that the lack of shades on a car window - will deter an absolute devil (or maybe rapists are worse) from committing the act.

Anyway - the context itself answers the point. A rapist - can use a car with blinds / shades / curtains on all windows. These are NOT banned by the regulation / law. Only sunfilms are banned. Absurdity Pro Max Ultra 2.0. If the government wants to ban the films - ban ANY kind of obstruction on any glasses of the vehicle -

1. Films
2. Shades
3. Curtains
4. Towels / scarf hung on the window
5. Advertisement sheets covering entire buses / trains including glass area (This is a huge revenue generator for governments).
6. Ban vehicles like the EECO that are available with windows closed off for cargo usage. Who knows what is actually happening inside?

I rest my case.

[MT_Hyderabad]

I am not sure how many of folks here would agree, but I have seen cases of rapes in moving cars in Delhi drop drastically when sun films were banned by the Supreme Court.

[IamNikhil]

Personally believe that there should be a clear distinction between films and tints.

Simply put, sun-films aid in heat-resistance and keeping the car cool, especially in the harsh summer conditions in our country; while dark tints are mostly just installed for privacy, etc.

A majority of the common population is intent on using only sun-film to shield themselves from the heat while in the car, while dark-tints are preferred mostly by VIPs and the elite class.

A blanket ban serves zero purpose. High-time the government overhauls such antiquated laws and tweaks them to accommodate some common sense and practicality!

[DCEite]

I cannot even stand a regular removable sunshare on the front windows, let alone a full blown curtain !

The visibility is severly hampered, and I felt I was driving with one eye closed.

Thanks for bringing up with extremely important and sensitive topic on TBHP.

[Raghu M]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

I'll be frank about this. I like to call a spade a spade. The Government authorities and the Judiciary - ARE STUPID. Period. There is no justification for this insane ban on sunfilms.

I think the above statement is a little over the top. There maybe some exceptions here and there but calling the all Govt. authorities and the Judiciary stupid is not right. How many of us follow rules (apart from the sun films) in the first place? It's a blame game that never ends. Let's not treat this forum as our punching bag against the govt./judiciary.

[N.A.GTC]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

Anyway - the context itself answers the point. A rapist - can use a car with blinds / shades / curtains on all windows. These are NOT banned by the regulation / law. Only sunfilms are banned. Absurdity Pro Max Ultra 2.0.

Originally Posted by Reinhard

At the same time - its about films - no regulation about curtains or towels or whatever else people will put on the windows. How stupid does one have to be to not think of all this?

I'm not saying I agree with the ban on the films, BUT:

You are wrong when you say the ban is only on films and not on other materials. Here's what the Supreme Court order of 2012 says:

23. In light of the above discussion, we have no hesitation in holding that use of black films or any other material upon safety glass, windscreen and side windows is impermissible. In terms of Rule 100(2), 70 per cent and 50 per cent VLT standard are relatable to the manufacture of the safety glasses for the windshields (front and rear) and the side windows respectively. Use of films or any other material upon the windscreen or the side windows is impermissible in law the VLT of the safety glass without any additional material being pasted upon the safety glasses which must conform with manufacture specifications.

(...)

26. The manufacturer of the vehicle may manufacture the vehicles with tinted glasses which have Visual Light Transmission (VLT) of safety glasses windscreen (front and rear) as 70 per cent VLT and side glasses as 40 per cent VLT, respectively. No black film or any other material can be pasted on the windscreens and side glasses of a vehicle.

27. For the reasons afore-stated, we prohibit the use of black films of any VLT percentage or any other material upon the safety glasses, windscreens (front and rear) and side glasses of all vehicles throughout the country. The Home Secretary, Director General/Commissioner of Police of the respective States/Centre shall ensure compliance with this direction. The directions contained in this judgment shall become operative and enforceable with effect from 4 th May, 2012.

(W.P. (C) 265/2011, Avishek Goenka v. Union of India, 27.04.2012)

Thus, no material which restricts visibility is allowed on the glasses. No sunshades, no towels, no newspapers. No curtains.

Again, I do not agree with the ban fully. I also do not agree with the Supreme Court imposing bans on anything (though - in this case, it is not as if the Supreme Court imposed a ban as much as it just read the law and told the authorities to implement it). Except in the rarest of rare cases, judiciary needs to not enter into rule-making arena - I am a strong advocate for this position and have in fact published articles on this.

That being said, some sort of regulation & enforcement on this was needed. The argument that criminals will not care for the law and therefore there should be no restriction is a flawed one. Criminals who commit murder clearly do not care for the prohibition on murder - should be legalise it then? Of course not.

The ban helps - someone using a vehicle in a criminal activity has a greater risk of being caught at random police checks due to the films/tints. In Delhi - speaking anecdotally - there has been a HUGE reduction in vehicles with films. Only rare cars are there, that too in outskirts. I do believe the society is just a little bit safer this way, where people can see what is happening inside a car, who is driving it, etc.

Yes, it's not a 100% safety valve, for reasons well known to all of us: the enforcement agencies (police) is understaffed, corrupt, lazy etc. But that's an enforcement issue. To ask for removal of the law because of non-enforcement is incorrect.

Again, I do not agree with the ban in its present form. The all-or-nothing approach needs a rethink. The government can very well amend the MV Rules to bring in that change - again, the SC ruling is *based on* these rules, and thus, upon a change of Rules, goes away.

But that does not mean that (a) the ban is only on films; and (b) it is not needed/effective.


PS: Those advertisement sheets you spoke of would certainly be illegal. I have not seen any such sheets/films on commercial busses (especially government busses). Maybe it's a trend in Maharashtra? Not sure. Either way, it is illegal and should be reported. But again, lack of enforcement ≠ rule is bad.

[nettooran]

I remember seeing an interview with one Inspector from Kerala MVD. He was being asked about the curtains used by VIPs after the Sun film ban. His explanation was this.

" The supreme court has issued directive to ensure that the windows are transperent. So even if curtains are there, the windows by itself are transparent." I first thought he was being sarcastic. But them I realized he was serious about it.

Equally stupid are the supreme court orders. Its just because of the contemt of court clause that people are not open about how stupid some of their orders are.