New Threat

[dreamaker]

I live on the eastern side of Michigan, and lately I noticed a new trend, and in my opinion a threat to two wheelers. Being a biker type, my most important function is paying attention at all times. What I mean is when you ride you have to guesstimate what peoples intentions are on the road, specially four or more wheel vehicles. Are health depends on it!  Also being a health minded bicyclist. I found bicycles tend to be more dangerous than motorcycles, so you really got to pay attention. What I am seeing more and more, I feel is a threat to two wheelers, people are getting blacked out windows on the driver and passenger and even the windshields. I contacted the Sheriffs Office Traffic Division, they said they could not do anything about it, because the Eye Doctors are passing out prescription out like mints for dark tinted windows. Understand I am not talking about tinted windows, I am talking about blacked out windows, I just can't see how the can drive at night. Some of you maybe asking why it is my business, now to some, it may be a second nature and don't notice they do it. For example: You may be going down the road, and notice a vehicle wants to pull out, our first reaction, is to make sure that person looks at us before pulling out in front of us, so they know we are there.  If they have black out windows, you don't have that option, and it increases our chances of being in an accident.  My question, is this trend in your area as well, or just in my area of Mich.  I got kind of rule of thumb of driving a vehicles, If you can't parallel park you should drive, because you can't control your vehicle, So if the light of the day is so bright you can't see, then you should not be driving, if you must, than you should be wearing those Grand Pa sunglasses. Not putting people around you at risk of harm. Be careful and don't assume anything on the road,  Ride Safe!! Specially in this good weather, they may not expect you to be there!!

[..]

Good point about tinted windows and looking for the drivers face.

[Robert]

We have that here also but the problem is most that have that are the brothers or those up to no good. I had a problem with a girl that came up to fast behind was tailgating and finally pulled into the next lane and passed rather quickly. I came up beside her on the phone blacked out windows and couldn't give a dam. This was the first time I thought about one of those Harley handle bar things. It is also a problem with trying to read the intentions of these people so I agree with you. Unfortunately there is not much to be done.

[Patrick]

Yep, no more eye contact.

There is a law against that tint in this state and the cops are pretty good at enforcing it. They don't care about doctor slips.

[dreamaker]

Yep, no more eye contact.

There is a law against that tint in this state and the cops are pretty good at enforcing it. They don't care about doctor slips.

It use to be like that around here, but the posture has changed, on that issue. Its almost like saying that, people that break the law, have more rights than people that do not break the law.  It is just dangerous for us, not so much tinted as much blacked out. May be this is an issue Moms could being to the attention to Abate.

[old2soon]

Can you say PEE CEE?? You MIGHT not like it BUT it is being rammed down our collective throats for the minority that demands it and DO NOT give a crap for the other 99.5% of the rest of us. And it's not JUST tinted windows. In Texas in 79 or 80 I installed some tint on the windows of my Suburban. Texas State Troopers had me removing it from the passenger doors. And trust me when I tell you there was NO discussion of that issue. While the inmates may not have total control of the asylum they are in control past the tipping point. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess Tolbirt]

here you have to be able to see your drivers license through the tint,, thats on the front and windshield,,

[dreamaker]

Speaking of tint, there are a couple things I think are extremely Stupid. First the license plate is for identification, and when you put a tinted cover on it, seems rather stupid. The one that really gets me is the front and tail lights. Naturally the head light you diminish you viewing as you drive.  The tail light, it is had to notice if someone hits the brakes, have a friend with a Street Glide and his tail lights were tinted, which don't get me wrong it looked cool.  But driving behind him was kind of a challenge because when he hit the brakes it didn't stand out like it should. I told him about it, but he was kind of, Oh Well response. Equipment that safety is concern, should be functional and not cute!

[old2soon]

Speaking of tint, there are a couple things I think are extremely Stupid. First the license plate is for identification, and when you put a tinted cover on it, seems rather stupid. The one that really gets me is the front and tail lights. Naturally the head light you diminish you viewing as you drive.  The tail light, it is had to notice if someone hits the brakes, have a friend with a Street Glide and his tail lights were tinted, which don't get me wrong it looked cool.  But driving behind him was kind of a challenge because when he hit the brakes it didn't stand out like it should. I told him about it, but he was kind of, Oh Well response. Equipment that safety is concern, should be functional and not cute!

         I added the standard/tour tail light to my I/S. I M H O-you can NOT have too much light on the back of a M/C. Far as tinting the headlights-how soon/fast/quick would that come off and driving lights added sans tint after an encounter with a forest rat at night??  WHY would anyone want to diminish what thy see while driving??  RIDE SAFE.

[..]

Speaking of tint, there are a couple things I think are extremely Stupid. First the license plate is for identification, and when you put a tinted cover on it, seems rather stupid. The one that really gets me is the front and tail lights. Naturally the head light you diminish you viewing as you drive.  The tail light, it is had to notice if someone hits the brakes, have a friend with a Street Glide and his tail lights were tinted, which don't get me wrong it looked cool.  But driving behind him was kind of a challenge because when he hit the brakes it didn't stand out like it should. I told him about it, but he was kind of, Oh Well response. Equipment that safety is concern, should be functional and not cute!

         I added the standard/tour tail light to my I/S. I M H O-you can NOT have too much light on the back of a M/C. Far as tinting the headlights-how soon/fast/quick would that come off and driving lights added sans tint after an encounter with a forest rat at night??  WHY would anyone want to diminish what thy see while driving??  RIDE SAFE.

Cause it looks cool and they are as dumb as a box o' rocks.

[dreamaker]

By the way, the headlight thing are on cars that I have seen. The tail light and turn signals and license plate, I have also seen on bikes.

[Master Blaster]

In Louisiana, to get your vehicle inspected it has to pass a tint test.  They have a device they slip over the glass that gives them a readout.  If its above the standard, it wont pass.  Its for the cops safety, they must be able to see that the driver isn't about to shoot them.

[Willow]

My perspective is that if you're letting seeing the driver to cause you to feel unthreatened you're giving yourself a false sense of security.  A cage driver can look right at you, the motorcyclist, and not see you at all.

I don't like to see heavily tinted windows but I don't think it impacts my belief of whether or not the driver will pull out in front of me.  Wait!  Maybe it does have an effect.  With untinted windows I can sometimes tell whether the driver is male or female.      

[dreamaker]

My perspective is that if you're letting seeing the driver to cause you to feel unthreatened you're giving yourself a false sense of security.  A cage driver can look right at you, the motorcyclist, and not see you at all.

I don't like to see heavily tinted windows but I don't think it impacts my belief of whether or not the driver will pull out in front of me.  Wait!  Maybe it does have an effect.  With untinted windows I can sometimes tell whether the driver is male or female.      

It don't matter if it is a man or a women, with all the junk ass distractions the put in cars today, specially cells and texting, it don't matter. It just another thing, you have to consider before you making your choices.  All though in my area, when the soccer moms are dropping of their kids at school, you better be paying attention, or they will mess up your shoe shine.  This comes from experience from riding a motorcycle or bicycle.

[art]

Another reason not to like tinted windows is you cannot admire the beautiful woman driving. Back in the mid 60s while riding in the San Fernando Valley,Ca. I seen Jacqueline Bisset. Oh my ,she looked good.