The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that sun glare causes 9,000 accidents each year. The only environmental-related cause for crashes that exceeds sun glare is slick road conditions. Dawn and dusk are the most dangerous for sun glare with the sun low on the horizon and often unavoidably directly in the eyes of motorists.
Investing in polarized sunglasses, utilizing their sun visors, always keeping a clean windshield both inside and out and driving with increased caution and reduced speed can help drivers avoid potentially collisions when the sun is low in the sky.
This is especially critical when driving through areas known to be hotspots for wildlife crossings like Estes Park, Colorado in the fall where the following video was taken. Thankfully what most likely appeared to be an antlered silhouette in front of a glaring early evening sun was spotted by the pickup truck driver at the last moment and he was able to come to a complete stop and avoid collision.
Visibility will never be absolutely perfect while driving into the sun when it’s low on the horizon but motorists can take precautions and make proper adjustments to minimize risk.
Colorado Department of Transportation Sung Glare Driver Safety Tips:
Motorists should consider adjusting eastbound travel plans to before sunrise or later in the morning if possible. If you can’t adjust your travel plans, here are some additional safety tips to help:
- Make sure your windshield is clean – inside and out
- Ensure your vehicle has plenty of windshield wiper fluid
- Wear a good pair of sunglasses to provide shading
- Adjust your speed to avoid sudden reactions
- Let off the accelerator and slow down gradually instead of slamming on the brakes
Here’s a quick video from the Washington State Troopers on sun glare driving safety.