Sunrise and sunset are particularly dangerous times to drive. With the sun lower in the sky, it's easy to get blinded by the light. No matter if you live in sunny Miami or cloudy Seattle, you'll have to deal with sun glare at some point.
Why Is Driving Into the Sun Dangerous?
When you drive east at sunrise or west at sunset, the sun will be right in front of you, aligned with your eyesight. This decreases visibility. If you've ever looked directly at a flashlight, then you know how blinding harsh lights can feel.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 9,000 crashes happen every year because of sun glare. Think about it: if you can't see clearly the road in front of you, how can you come to a stop when the car in front of you brakes suddenly? Or how can you avoid hitting a deer, who are especially active from spring to fall during sunrise and sunset?
In a way, driving against the sun is kind of like distracted driving. Your ability to respond to dangers on the road worsens, and you may put other road users in danger.
7 Ways to Stay Safe When It's Sunny
Here's what you can do to keep yourself and others safe on the road.
1. Use Your Car's Visors
If you're lucky, lowering the visors in your car will be enough to block out the sun. This works best right after sunrise and right before sunset, when the sky is not on the horizon yet.
2. Wear Sunglasses
Polarized sunglasses are made to reduce glare. Keep a pair in the glove box at all times, especially in the summer.
3. Maintain Your Windshield
Cracks in a windshield make harsh light feel even worse because they reflect it at different angles. This is true for sun glares and for nighttime driving (like when you drive past a vehicle with its brights on). Always repair or replace a cracked windshield.
4. Keep the Dash Clear
If you have shiny objects hanging from the rearview mirror or on the dash, put them away. They'll reflect harsh sun rays and make the sun glare substantially worse.
5. Leave a Greater Gap Between Cars
Increase the safety following distance between your vehicle and those in front of you. If they brake suddenly and you don't see it right away because of the sun, you'll have a few precious extra seconds to react.
6. Use Lane Markings as Guides
When visibility gets too poor, use the lane markings to keep you on the road. Look away from the sun and focus on those painted lines. They'll prevent you from accidentally driving off into the ditch.
This safety trick also works when you're driving in fog and at night when you're blinded by other drivers' brights.
7. Avoid the Worst Times of Day
Health experts recommend that older drivers, who are more likely to suffer from age-related eye conditions, stay off the road at sunrise and sunset.
That's good advice for young, inexperienced drivers, too. The best way to fight the sun is to avoid it altogether if you can. As a plus, you may even avoid rush traffic.
Improve Your Driving to Ride Off Into the Sunset
The best way to gain confidence and strengthen your skills on the road is to enroll in a driver improvement course. You'll learn how to become a better driver so you can keep yourself and everyone around you safe. Take classes online at your pace and you may even get an auto insurance discount at the end.
