It's summer . . . the Sun's out . . . and unless your eyes are made of steel, you're probably going to need sunglasses when out and about in the car.
That's why we've put together a post about the whole topic, especially as glare can actually cause car accidents.
Read on to find out what the law says and which types of sunglasses are best.
What Does the Law Say?
Wearing sunglasses is allowed whilst driving, and although it's not a legal requirement to wear them in bright conditions, you could still be considered by police to be "driving without due care and attention" in certain situations. That's according to Rule 237 of the Highway Code, which states that drivers must slow down or pull over if they are "dazzled by bright sunlight" – clearly advising you to wear sunglasses on a bright, sunny day.
There's also rules regarding which type of sunglasses you can't wear. So if your sunglasses are too dark or are otherwise deemed unsafe for driving, you could receive an on-spot fine of £100 and three points on your license. After all, the point is to take in more light, not block it out. Sunglasses should therefore:
✔ Keep your vision clear ✔ Let enough light through to enable you to see properly
Which Lens Tints are Suitable for Driving?
Sunglasses and the lenses on sunglasses are ranked in categories from 0 to 4 (and labelled as such by law), making it super simple for you to know just how much light is able to filter through the tint of each.
The middle categories are your best bet, as the ones on either extreme of the scale are going to be either too light or too dark.
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Category 0 – No or very light tint, with light transmission ranging from 80% to 100%. These sunglasses won't filter out much sunlight at all, and although not illegal, they'll be of no help when driving.
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Category 1 – Light tint, with light transmission ranging from 43% to 80%. These will be suitable in low sunlight, but not on very bright days.
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Category 2 – Medium tint, with light transmission ranging from 18% to 43%. These sunglasses are your best bet for driving in sunlight.
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Category 3 – Dark tint, with light transmission ranging from 8% to 18%. These can be used in very bright weather, but your vision inside the car might be affected.
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Category 4 – Very dark tint, with light transmission ranging from 3% to 8%. These are entirely unsuitable for driving.
You're best looking for lenses designed to react to visible light as well as UV in order to ensure that they'll adapt to the varying light conditions when driving.
The following are all suitable for driving . . .
Fixed Tint Lenses
Most everyday sunglasses fall into the category of fixed tint lenses. Fixed tint sunglasses stay at the same darkness no matter how sunny or dark it is outside. They're easy to find and can be added to prescription glasses too. As long as they fall within categories 1-3 on the scale (which most do), they're perfectly fine for daytime driving.
Polarised Lenses
These are a subset of fixed tint lenses, meaning they have a special filter on them which is designed to reduce glare, especially from light reflecting off snow or puddles. Not everyone agrees with them, but they’re still an option to help keep your eyes comfortable and your vision clear.
Variable Tint Lenses
Otherwise known as 'photochromic' lenses, the tint density is changed on these when exposed to certain types of light. As a general rule: the brighter the light, the darker the lenses will turn on variable tint sunglasses.
Graduated Lenses
These are where the top part of the lens in which you look out is darkest, and some drivers like that. The bottom part is generally lighter which makes it easier to see the controls within the car.
Other Ways to Reduce Sun Glare
Of course, sunglasses aren't your only line of defence against Sun glare. Your car's sun visors do a good job of blocking out the bright sunlight too, and not just when the sun is straight ahead. Most sun visors detach at one end, meaning you can easily swing it around against the front side windows if that happens to be where the light is coming from.
Reflections can be another cause of annoyance on bright summer days. There might not be a whole lot you can do about the sun bouncing off of snow and puddles, but what you can do is invest in a little spring cleaning to help reduce reflections from your windscreen, bonnet or side mirrors. Also, make sure that you remove any shiny objects from the dashboard.
Our Top Tips
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Keep a pair of sunglasses in your car all-year round
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Choose a suitable lent tint (ideally category 2)
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Have an eye examination every two years to find out if your sunglasses need prescription lenses
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Discuss the options for sun and glare protection with your optician
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Consider a specialist driving lens or tint
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Never wear sunglasses when night driving
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Clean the sunglasses regularly and have spray or wipes to hand
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Avoid frames that obscure your peripheral vision
Summary
So, that's your lowdown on wearing sunglasses whilst driving.
It's well advised that you wear them. You just have to be careful not to use the wrong type.