Driving a car without sunglasses could be dangerous when the sun is low (Image: Getty Images)
Drivers could end up paying a huge fine for not wearing a particular item which could make driving safer at this time of year.
As the days start to get longer, the sun sits lower in the sky, which creates a hazardous glare during .
Over the next week, sunrise will be at around 7am, and sunset at 5.30pm, directly aligning with rush hour .
The sun’s low altitude at this time of year means it shines directly into drivers’ eyes, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of collisions.
With research showing that only 39.5% of drivers slow down in response to sun glare, Claire Hayden, Optician from , is urging motorists to take this issue seriously to avoid fines, penalty points, or worse – a serious accident.
She said: “Keep a pair of sunglasses to hand in your vehicle. Polarised lenses in particular help reduce glare more effectively than regular sunglasses.”
Sunglasses are important for safe driving (Image: Getty Images)
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Drivers could face fines of up to and three points on their licence for failing to maintain proper control of their vehicle due to poor visibility.
In some cases, fines can rise as high as £5,000 if careless driving results in a serious incident.
Claire said: “Low sun can be just as dangerous as in fog or heavy rain. In fact, it has a much more dazzling effect than the higher sun of summer.
“It can cause a strong glare across a which distorts a driver’s view of the road and can be extremely dangerous.
“Middle-aged and older drivers are more sensitive to glare due to slower eye adaptation, and people with lighter-coloured eyes, or those who have undergone vision correction surgery, may also have heightened glare sensitivity.”
Over the next week, the sun will be shining at peak rush hour times (Image: Getty Images)
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Claire says you should also aim to keep your windscreen clean as dirt and smudges can intensify glare.
Another tip is to use your sun visor to block direct sunlight without obstructing your view of the road.
When , make sure to slow down and increase the following distance as reduced visibility means longer reaction times are needed.