Driving in the sun can be more than just an inconvenience. If you aren’t careful, you might wind up causing or being involved in an accident that leads to a personal injury lawsuit. Here are just a few tips for being safe in sunglare.
1. Wear Polarized Sunglasses
It may sound like an obvious piece of advice, but there are plenty of drivers on the road who think they’re too cool for sunglasses. Worse still, there are drivers who have no idea that their bargain bin shades aren’t actually good enough. If you’re serious about maintaining your vision in the sun, you’ll need a pair of polarized sunglasses.
2. Use Your Sun Visor
Sun visors can reduce sunglare and give you a better view of the road ahead. You can also purchase extended or secondary sun visors from car garages and auto parts suppliers; these come in a variety of lengths, widths and transparencies, so if your regular sun visor isn’t getting the job done, you can add another and supplement what it lacks.
3. Wash Your Windshield
Have you ever seen the sun hit a diamond ring and scatter light in a thousand different directions? An unglamorous version of the same thing happens with dirty windshields. The more grime there is, the more the sunlight will bounce around various points and make it hard to see. Wash your windshield before you get on the road, not during or after.
4. Clear Your Dashboard
In the same vein as the above, clutter on your dashboard can also scatter light in blinding ways. They don’t have to be reflective objects, either. It might be common sense not to throw a mirror face-up on your dashboard, but even paper and plastic products can scatter light if the rays hit it just right. To be completely safe, leave your dashboard completely clear.
5. Upgrade Your Tech
Many modern cars already come with things like proximity alerts and rear view cameras, but even if you’re driving an older model without built-in accident senors, you can purchase and install them on your own. They’ll do the “seeing” for you, so you’ll greatly decrease your chances of having an accident because of sunglare or anything else.
6. Be Careful
Don’t be afraid to slow down and let other cars pass you while you’re experiencing sunglare. You should also make sure that there are always 2-3 car lengths between you and the next vehicle. Both of these things will give you time to react if you’re ever so blinded by the sun that you lose control of your car or need an extra moment to get your bearings.
7. Avoid Situations With Sunglares
If you always experience sunglare while driving to work on the same street, think about changing your route. If you’re always blinded by the sun when you take your lunch break at noon, consider taking your break at 11:50 or 12:10. These little changes to your routine might make all the difference in how much you’re affected by sunglare.
These are just a few things to keep in mind while driving against the sun. It only takes a split-second to get involved in an accident, so take precautions while you can. They might wind up saving your life one day.
