As we get closer to summer drivers no longer have to make as many adjustments for wet or windy weather conditions. However, the sunshine can cause as many issues which is why we’ve put together this article with our top tips for dealing with sun glare on the roads.
1. Invest in sunglasses
The best way to prevent the sun from blinding you is to invest in a decent pair of sunglasses.
Polarised sunglasses are designed to filter sun rays that are reflected off surfaces like water or glass, which makes them a great choice for your driving sunglasses as they won't only minimise the brightness of rays but also any reflection from your windscreen.
Additionally, we recommend choosing a pair with a CE mark, which means they’ve been tested to European safety standards and will protect your eyes from UV rays and the damage they could cause.
2. Use your visor
All vehicles have sun visors that are designed to block out the sun on bright days and reduce the amount of light in your field of vision generally for improved vision. All sun visors are designed to reduce the impact of the sun while not restricting your field of vision.
Some vehicles also have visors that can be turned to cover the side window if you're driving parallel to the sun.
As they also reduce the amount of light, they can be useful to use when the sun isn't directly in your eyes.
3. Look after your windscreen
Your windscreen's an essential part of how you see the road ahead of you so it’s important that you look after it, especially as you can get additional glare on it during sunnier times.
It's easy to pick up dirt and dust on the windscreen when you're driving and you might not always notice it build up but this debris will amplify any rays that hit them and make the sunshine more of an issue.
You want to make sure that the windscreen's clean, inside and out. This might require a little more than using the screen wash and windscreen wipers, but will still be relatively easy for you to do and you can use regular glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth on both the inside and outside of the glass.
As well as keeping it clean you’ll want to make sure that any chips or cracks are repaired as quickly as possible. This will prevent them from becoming any worse but will also prevent the sunlight reflecting off the broken areas more harshly.
4. Tinted windows
A more long term solution to reduce the impact of the sun is to get tinted windows. You won't be able to have a high level of tint on your front side windows as these will need to allow at least 70% of the light in and not block more than 30% of the total light to ensure you're still able to accurately see the outside world.
Though you can't have a strong tint on the front windows even just a low level will significantly reduce the sun glare you get.
5. Avoid driving at peak sun times
The worst time for sun glare is when the sun is setting or rising and is on the horizon. If you're able to avoid driving at these times, then we recommend doing so. It might be a case of pulling over for a few minutes until the position of the sun changes or setting off a little later in the day.