Low sun during the commute to work can be uncomfortable and dangerous to drive in, especially as it’s right at the time where most people are travelling home from work too. Take a look at our top tips for driving in the low sun and what you can do to prevent the sun from causing an incident on your journey.
Why do we experience low sun?
During the winter time, the sun gets lower in the sky - which is ideal for the beautiful sunsets, but not so much for driving when commuting to and from work. Low sun during certain times of the day can impact a driver’s visibility, making it difficult to see the road whilst driving. Low sun happens during certain times of the year because the sun’s lower angle pushes its rays below the sun visor in your car - you may have noticed that pulling your visor down at this time of year doesn’t really provide the shade you need to be able to see. If it’s been raining, the low sun can cause reflections on the road, which reduce visibility even more.
Tips for Driving in low sun
If you’re driving regularly in the winter months, there are a few things you can do to help make driving in the low sun a little bit easier and more comfortable:
Sun visors
Built-in visors are a fantastic way to block the sun, as not only can you block the sun in front of you, but also to the side of you as well. Whilst causing a blockade between the sun and your eyes, they have the added benefit of reducing the amount of light that goes into your eyes - this means when you drive into shaded areas, it won’t take your eyes as long to adjust to the darker areas. If you’re driving with the sun to your right, you can unclip the left side of the visor from the ceiling and adjust to block the sun in your peripheral vision. For those travelling in the back, you can buy special sun guards that stick onto the back windows to keep the sunlight from your passenger’s eyes.
Sunglasses
Although this seems like an obvious option, sunglasses are ideal for adjusting your eyes to the lights and reducing the glare from the road. When looking for sunglasses to use whilst driving, it’s important to make sure that they are fit-for-purpose and can protect your eyes from UV rays. Look for sunglasses that have the ‘CE’ mark on them, as this means they’ve been tested to European safety standards. Try and look for glasses with a polarised feature as well, as these will help to protect against glare, as well as direct sunlight.
Be careful with your driving
Everyone wants to get to work on time or get home as fast as they can, but it’s important to remember that with low sunlight comes low visibility. When you’re driving along, it’s important to make sure that you’re keeping your distance from the car in front and watch your speed to ensure you’re not going too fast for the conditions. Approximately 3,000 accidents a year are attributed to low sun, so you must exercise extra precautions when driving at this time of year.
Tinted Windows
Window tinting is ideal to ensure the glare and heat is directed away from the interior of the car. There are a couple of options regarding tinted windows - you can choose a full window tint or a film that can be easily installed on the windows. Be aware - there is a legal limit as to how dark you can make your windows. You still need to be able to see out of them! The front windscreen must allow at least 75% of light through and the front side windows must allow at least 70% of light through.
Clean your windscreen
Although this may seem obvious, as the colder weather draws in and low-sun becomes the normal commute, it’s vital to ensure your washer bottle fluid is topped up and your windscreen is kept clean. Due to the grit and moisture on the road during the autumn and winter, it doesn’t take long at all for your windscreen to become very dirty, especially when following another vehicle. This dirt and the low sun combined can be cause for serious visibility issues, as all you'll be able to see and focus on is how filthy the windscreen is. Ensure you top the washer bottle fluid up at least once a week, so that you’re always prepared for the weather conditions.
On top of this, it’s always a good idea to ensure that your wiper blades are in good condition and aren’t displaying any signs of wear and tear. Damaged wiper blades can end up leaving streaks on your windscreen and in conditions that already impair visibility, this can end up causing more visibility issues. We would always recommend replacing the wiper blades if they are displaying signs of wear and tear.
Stay safe in your car in the winter with Swansway
Staying safe on the road during the autumn months is imperative for you and your family to reach your destination without incident. Our merchandise and accessories for your car can ensure that not only is your vehicle one-of-a-kind but it’s also kitted out with everything you need to ensure the low sun doesn’t affect your journey. If you’re unsure what you're looking for or would like more information about one of the vehicles you see on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our team and we’d be happy to help you.
