Blinded by the Light: 5 Tips to Drive Safely in the Sun

Whether they are rigorously scheduled or spontaniously improvised, road trips are always fun. During their summer vacations, many Quebecers want to hit the road looking for new adventures, but they should always do it as safely as possible.  

There’s nothing like sunshine, right? Yes, but driving while blinded by the bright sun can become tiresome, and sometimes even stressful!

Here are five tips to help you when driving in this kind of situation: 

1. Go Slower

It’s the rule of thumb. If you can’t stop for a break long enough for the sun to go down, adjust your driving by reducing your speed. This will give you more time to react if something happens in front of you.

2. Use Your Sun Visors

This is an obvious solution, but many people seem to forget that they even exist! Feel free to lower not only your own visor, but also the front passenger’s. If the sun is on your left, rotate the visor to the left, so the sun won’t prevent you from checking your blind spot.

3. Wear Sunglasses

Every driver should keep at least one pair of sunglasses in the car for situations like these. Sometimes, lowering the sun visors won’t be enough if the light is too intense. Sunglasses are also a good way to reduce eye fatigue and stay focussed on the road.

4. Eliminate Reflection Sources

A piece of paper, a candy wrapper, a phone, a book or any other object left on the dashboard can cause annoying reflections that can also blind you. A little cleaning never hurts. In this case, it’s even a matter of safety.

5. Take Care of Your Windshield 

Prevention is better than cure, so before going on a road trip, have all the cracks in your windshield repaired. They can sometimes catch the sun’s light and impact your visibility.  Also, don’t be afraid to pull over or stop at a gas station to clean it (and all other windows while you’re at it!).