Easing Your Ride into the Sunset

Picture this:

A grand adventure… Overflowing with danger and romance, culminating in a triumphant ride into the sunset; a haggard and lonesome hero, returning home or on to Glory….

Luckily for us, we regular folks get to ride into the sunset far more frequently than the heroes of those stories. The only hang-up is that it’s not nearly as romantic as we might wish it was. When you’re on your way to or from work, the sun can paint either a dazzling display on the clouds, or a dangerous span of unbearably bright light, endangering ourselves and those around us.

Follow these helpful suggestions to ease the inconvenience of driving directly into the blinding sun:

Slow down to reflect the fact that your vision is compromised. Use extra caution, especially during school zones. Expect the rest of traffic to slow down, and keep an eye on your rear-view mirror for traffic that may be rapidly approaching from behind.

Invest in polarized sunglasses. They will help reduce glare. Have them within reach and ready for your face.

Use your drop-down visor to block out the sun, but be sure to keep an eye on traffic lights.

Leave more following room between your car and the car in front of you.

Drive with your headlights on to increase your visibility to other drivers. Having headlights on will also set your tail lights at full luminosity, which will benefit drivers behind you who are also struggling to see.

Keep your windshield clean, inside and out. Use either glass cleaner or a vinegar/water mixture to wipe down glass, even if it looks clean. Some dirt will only cause problems when the sun is at its lowest visible point.

Avoid storing papers on your dash board, as the reflection on your windshield can obscure vision.

Use lane markings to help guide you. Look toward the edge of the road, and not directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun can damage your retinas. Stay focused on driving.

If you need to, pull over. Do this SAFELY, OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. It often only takes a few minutes for the sun to reach a tolerable angle. If you don’t trust yourself or other drivers, it will be worth the wait.

Allow time in your routine so that you do not have to rush. If possible, adjust route timing to avoid times when sun glare is most extreme.