Driving off into the sunset may look like a beautiful cliché scene in the movies, but in reality it could be really unsafe, not only to you and your car but also to the others on the road.
That’s because driving into the sunset often means serious sun glare.
While sometimes you just can’t avoid driving in sun glare, co-founders of A1 Windscreens Darren Pay and Justin Oakes share the ways you can drive safely when harsh glare affects your vision.
Sun glare dangers
The main problem with driving at dusk or dawn is that it negatively affects your vision. As you already know, it is unsafe to drive on the road when your vision is obstructed or unclear. Glare is considered a threat as it weakens your vision.
It’s also a time of day when people on the road are tired. Add sun glare to the mix, and you have the recipe for dangerous driving conditions.
How to minimise windscreen glare?
Use your car’s visor
Although this may be stating the obvious, most people do not use their visor and, instead, choose to suffer through harsh rays.
A car visor is meant to protect you and your passenger from the harsh sun glare. It should be used to prevent glare from harming your eyes and obstructing your vision. It is one of the quickest and easiest ways to eliminate rays while you drive.
All you need to do is push the visor as far as possible against your car’s windscreen/window to achieve optimal results.
If you notice that your factory-installed visor isn’t fulfilling its purpose, you can upgrade to an advanced visor.
Keeping polarised sunglasses at hand
Polarised sunglasses are a great way to eliminate glare, and you should keep a pair in your car at all times. This means you have a backup if, due to a misinterpreted weather forecast, you happen to leave your sunglasses at home.
Windscreen and window tints
Sometimes using your visor and wearing polarised sunglasses might not be enough to block out strong and harsh rays. It is especially possible if you live in a region that experiences particularly strong rays.
In times like these, you should get your windscreen and windows tinted to reduce the sun glare.
Darkening your windscreen and windows helps to improve visibility and prevent any harsh light from weakening your vision.
However, before you get your windscreen and windows tinted, ensure that the tint complies with the legal tint percentage of your region to avoid any legal issues.
Keep your headlights on
You may be wondering why and how turning your headlights on would prevent sun glare, but there is a logical answer to this question.
Keeping your headlights on doesn’t prevent strong rays; however, it does make your presence known on the road and lets other drivers see you easily or notice your car.
Choose a less sunny route
Although this may not be an option for everyone, if you do know of a less sunny route to travel, you may wish to take that route. Doing so solves the problem of driving with sun glare.
Or you may wish to adjust your scheduled travel time. That way, you would be able to avoid peak sun glare hours. Another option is choosing north or south routes or travelling through urban settings or tall trees that filter sun glare.
Maintain distance between other cars
No matter how late you are or how soon you want to reach your desired destination, it is essential to maintain a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you.
Did you know, one out of three accidents is due to tailgating? Not only is tailgating considered poor driving form, it’s also reckless.
Therefore, it is best to keep a safe distance between other cars while on the road and even more so when the sun glare is harsh. Being precautious on the road will keep you safe and reduce the damage and harm if you suddenly need to brake.
Do not speed
It is best to avoid speeding as it will give you the space and time required to brake in case the car in front is facing issues when driving with sun glare.
Wondering which speed is perfect for driving with sun glare? Drive at the same speed that you do when there is heavy rain.
Driving on the road with sun glare is risky and dangerous as it impairs the driver’s vision and affects visibility. Follow the tips mentioned above to drive as safely as possible.
This article was written by Darren Pay and Justin Oakes, co-founders of A1 Windscreens.
Do you try to avoid driving into the sun? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
Also read: Sneaky eye problems that mean you probably shouldn’t be driving
