Sick of squinting when you’re driving?
Watching the sunrise or sunset can be beautiful, but it can be an extremely dangerous time to be driving.
Sometimes driving into the sun can be unavoidable so here are a few tips to get you to your destination safely.
1. Use your visor
When you’re driving, look up and you’ll find one of the easiest and quickest defences against sun glare.
It only takes a couple of seconds to flip down the visor, and it can significantly reduce the effect of sun glare.
For the best results, push the visor against the windscreen as high as possible so it blocks the sun’s rays without interfering with your view of traffic.
2. Wear sunnies
Polarised sunglasses will not only block out glare, but also protect your eyes. How many times have you started driving and realised that you’ve left your sunnies at home?
It’s something we all do from time to time.
To prevent this, keep a spare pair of sunglasses in the car, ready for when the glare hits.
3. Keep your windshield clean
If you’re already struggling to see through a filthy windscreen, it’s only going to get harder when the glare hits.
The dirt and grime on the windscreen will cause the sunlight to scatter, making it extremely difficult for you to see the road.
This is dangerous and could land you in trouble with the police. If you don’t have a clear view of the road, you could receive a $205 fine, plus a $94 Victims of Crime Levy.
Make sure you always have enough wiper fluid in the windscreen washer fluid reservoir and clean your windscreen regularly to prevent dirt, dust and grime from building up.
It’s also important to keep your windscreen wipers in good working order, and not cracked, so they will clean the windshield effectively.
Don’t forget to wipe down the inside of your windscreen either.
You may not notice it until you experience sun glare, but often a layer of grease will form a film on the windscreen.
4. Avoid peak glare times
It might not always be possible but try to avoid driving in the early morning and late afternoon when sun glare is at its most dangerous.
5. Get chips or cracks fixed
Besides being clean, your windscreen should also be free of chips or cracks. It’s unsafe to drive a car with a cracked or chipped windscreen and it can make sun glare worse.
When sunlight bounces off broken edges in your window, it may cause rays of sun to blind you momentarily.
6. Clear your dashboard
Not only could objects on the dash become dangerous projectiles if you have a crash, but they may also reflect the sun into your eyes.
The safest option is to remove any objects sitting on your dash.
7. Drive safely
While all the tips above can help you combat sun glare, it’s also important to alter your driving to suit the conditions.
As soon as the sun hits, slow down and avoid looking into the light.
By slowing down, you’ll create space between you and the vehicles in front of you, reducing the risk of a rear-end crash. If you don’t think you can continue driving safely, pull over and wait until the glare eases.