Driving Tips for Bright or Low Sun

With the weekend looking to be hot and sunny, we’re sure you’ll have better things to do than driving, but just incase you do have to hit the road, we’ve put together our tips for driving in the bright sunshine.

According to data from the Department for Transport, around 3,900 people are injured in accidents caused by the blinding effects of the sun each year.


Particularly in the low sun of early mornings and before sunset in the evenings, the sun can shine directly into drivers’ eyes and our visors aren’t always enough to help with the glare. This glare can make it much harder to see the road ahead and potential hazards. So what else can you do?


Keep your windscreen clean

Dirty windscreens can make glare significantly worse, so it’s a good idea to keep your windscreen clean inside and out. Check your windscreen before your journey, and if there is any dirt or grease clean it off with a soft cloth.


Use your sun visor

If possible, use your sun visor to help block out the sun. Most visors are designed with a hinged flap that is adjustable to help shade the eyes of drivers and passengers from the glare of sunlight. Some visors are also designed so that they can be released from one bracket and turned towards the side window to block sunlight shining onto the side of the face.


Wear sunglasses

Although sun visors can be helpful, sometimes the angle of the sun cannot be covered with the visor. If conditions are bright, take a pair of sunglasses with you when driving, or keep a spare pair in your car so that you are never caught without them.

If you have polarised sunglasses, even better! Polarised lenses are more effective than normal lenses at combatting glare by filtering out the blinding horizontally-orientated light that causes glare, whilst still allowing in ‘vertical light’ and improving visibility.


Leave more room between you and the vehicle in front

Remember that other road users may be suffering from blinding effects of glare, even if you’re not. Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead will give you more time to react if needed.


It is also best to avoid any sudden stops, as the reaction time of the driver may also be impacted by low visibility.

MSG Summary

Driving visibility is rarely absolutely perfect, but if motorists are able to make adjustments to drive in different conditions, they can help to minimise additional risks that come with inhibited visual conditions.

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