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As a self-employed driver it’s always important to make sure that your van looks at its best. You may have already considered giving it tinted windows to improve the way it looks, but did you know there are a number of other benefits to tinting too? Added Privacy/Security If any of your courier jobs are undertaken in urban areas you’ll be aware that street crime can be a major issue for the self-employed owner-driver. The official police advice is that things left on view can tempt thieves to target your vehicle, so try to ensure nothing valuable is left on show. Window tinting can therefore add an extra layer of protection to your goods. Glare Protection One of the most challenging conditions for drivers on courier jobs can be low sunlight coming in at the side windows. Not only is this distracting, it can also be dangerous when the driver is not expecting a sudden flash of sunlight. Tinting can prevent this kind of glare and therefore make your driving conditions safer. Block UV Rays As well as preventing glare, some tinting can block up to 99% of UV rays from penetrating the glass, protecting both your eyes and skin. This can be extremely important if you spend a lot of your time out on the road carrying out courier jobs. Another advantage of reducing UV ray penetration is that it will protect your van’s interior from fading and sun damage – which is great news for the longevity of your vehicle. Reduce Heat Within the Van As window tints reflect rather than absorb infrared rays from the sun, the heat from direct sunlight is unable to penetrate the van, reducing the heat build up by anything up to 60%. One of the benefits of a lower internal temperature is that your air conditioning won’t have to work so hard and you’ll therefore save money on your running costs. Different Tint Options Available There are two main types of tint available: • Window tinting film • Factory tinted glass If you opt for tinting film you can either take it to a specialist who will fit the film for you or you can order film which will arrive cut to the size of your vehicle for you to apply. There are a range of tint shades available, from a heavy privacy tint to more subtle ranges of light tints. Legal Guidelines It is important to know the current law on window tinting to ensure that you are within the law when you are working on courier jobs. There is currently no law regarding the tinting of rear windscreens or rear passenger windows (if your van has them).The law regarding front windscreens and windows depends on the date your vehicle was first used. • For vehicles first used on 1 April 1985 or after, the front windscreen must let in at least 75% of sunlight and the front side windows at least 70%. • For vehicles first used before 1 April 1985, both the front windscreen and front side windows must let through at least 70% of sunlight. Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day self employed courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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