Tips for Driving in the Sun and Glare
While sunshine is always welcomed, driving in bright or low sun can impact your visibility on the road and can become a distraction. Being blinded by the sun is a serious problem for road users, as bright sunlight can create visual illusions and increase the risk of
an accident or incident occurring. During waste collection days, sun glare poses significant risks to our drivers and our helpers. To keep everyone safe on waste collection days, we have prepared some simple tips for you to follow.
- Keep a safe distance: Keeping a safe distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you is always important, but it becomes even more crucial when driving in sun glare. Sun glare can significantly impair your vision on the road, making it difficult to see other vehicles, our waste collection helpers, pedestrians or obstacles ahead. By keeping a safe distance, you allow yourself more time to react and make necessary adjustments to avoid accidents.
- Reaction time: Sun glare can make it harder to notice brake lights or indicators on the vehicle in front of you. Remember when driving behind a waste collection vehicle, we stop frequently along the roadway to collect bins. By maintaining distance, you give yourself more time to react to these signals and prevent rear-end collisions.
- Keep your windscreen and windows clean: Clean windscreens and windows contribute to overall driving safety by providing an unobstructed view, reducing glare, and ensuring that you can see the road clearly. Sun glare can create distracting conditions, such as reflections on your windshield or dashboard. By keeping your windscreen clean, you can minimise the distractions caused by these glares and maintain focus on the road.
- Ensure that your sun visor is working: Visors are designed to block out the sun without hindering your vision. They also reduce the amount of light that enters your field of vision. This helps your eyes adjust better when you drive into patches of shade.
- Use sunglasses to reduce the intensity of the sun: Wearing sunglasses helps reduce the intensity of sunlight and minimises glare caused by reflections such as sunlight bouncing off the road or other vehicles. Wearing the correct sunglasses also helps improve contrast and clarity, making it easier to see the road ahead as well as other vehicles and pedestrians.
Following these simple #summersafety tips will guarantee a safe waste collection service, and we can all enjoy a safer, happier summer outdoors. #bnmrecycling
