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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Ruby Flanagan

Drivers warned over low sun risk that could see you slapped with £5,000 fine

Drivers have been warned of the risks of the low sun which could land them with a fine of a few thousand pounds.

A report from ATS Euromaster has revealed that only 39.5% of drivers reduce their speed when there is sun glare.

However, if you don't have "proper control" of a vehicle or a full view of the road and traffic ahead of you, you could face a fine of between £1,000 and £5,000.

Drivers also risk being slapped with three points on their licence.

Sun glare is a problem at this time of year as the sun is lower in the sky.

This means it reflects at a lower angle when its light hits the surface, which makes it even worse for drivers.

Most sun glare accidents occur in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is on the horizon, which unfortunately coincides with times when the roads are the busiest.

Simon Waye, technical engineer at tyre sales and services company ATS Euromaster has shared six tips to help you drive safely in low sun and avoid heavy fines.

Tinted windows

Simon says one of the best things you can do is to tint your car windows.

He explained: "This will help to reduce excess heat and glare from the sun by reflecting the sun’s rays away from the interior of the car and will make it easier to see.

"But make sure to check the legal tint limit to avoid fines."

Sunglasses for driving

If you don't want to tint your windows, another tip for protecting yourself from sun glare while driving is to wear sunglasses.

Simon said: “Polarised lenses are a safer option over normal lenses as they are more effective at combating sun glare.”

However, he stressed that while wearing sunglasses, the lenses must allow vision to remain clear and must allow sufficient light to let you see properly.

Keep your windscreen clean

Another major tip is to keep your windscreen as clean as possible in the winter months.

A dirty windscreen can magnify the sun's glare making it harder to see the road.

Before going out on car journeys in the low sun, clean the interior and exterior of the car windscreen, checking that they are free of any dirt, fingerprints, and marks.

You should also make sure to check your wiper blades for signs of wear and tear by having your car annually serviced.

Fix any chips or cracks in your windshield

In addition to being clean, Simon says your windshield should also be smooth and free of imperfections.

Any chips, scratches and cracks to your glasswork are serious no matter how small they are as they can impair the driver’s vision, and make dazzle and glare from the low winter sun and headlights much worse.

Windscreen chips are also dangerous because they can suddenly worsen and break and could injure someone.

It is often cheaper and quicker to get a small crack or chip repaired than to wait for them to worsen and need to replace the entire windscreen.

Leave a greater distance

Another "essential" tip from Simon is to leave extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of you if you are driving in bright sunlight.

Bright sunlight can have an impact on your depth perception too and can greatly reduce your visibility and response time.

If you have the extra room, you give yourself extra time to respond which could help you avoid an accident.

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