How Glare From the Sun Causes Car Accidents

We are well into summer. In Texas, temperatures are exceeding 90 degrees in some places. School is out and people are vacationing, enjoying themselves in the hot sun.

Driving in the fall, winter, and spring can be challenging for many reasons. There may be ice on the road. Wind and fog can reduce visibility.

Many drivers think that driving in the summer is ideal, but the hot sun comes with one major issue: glare. This may not seem like a major issue, but surprisingly, there are more than 9,000 car accidents related to sun glare in the United States every year.

Peak sun glare season occurs during sunrise and sunset. It is especially blinding when driving east in the morning and west in the afternoon.

Direct sun glare is worst when the sun hangs low because the light ends up shining directly into your eyes. Indirect sunlight can also be dangerous as it reflects off windshields, chrome trim, buildings, water, and road signs, causing blinding glare.

Sun glare is a significant factor in car accidents. Sun glare can be so intense that drivers may not be able to see or react to traffic signals and sudden changes in road activity. When drivers go around a road curve or turn at an intersection, the position of the sun relative to them changes. This increases the chance of glare from multiple angles.

This makes driving more complicated. Drivers have to look in at least two directions instead of focusing only on what’s in front of them. They have to divide their attention accordingly and this makes it easier to miss something or someone. In many cases, sun glare can cause drivers to hit pedestrians because they don’t see them.

However, sun glare is not an acceptable defense in an accident. It is the responsibility of the driver to take reasonable steps to mitigate the glare while driving.

What can you do to reduce sun glare? Wearing sunglasses can be helpful, but keep in mind that the condition of a vehicle’s windshield contributes to visibility during sun glare season. Therefore, you should do the following:

• Keep the windshield clean, both inside and out.
• Check that windshield wipers are working properly.
• Keep washer fluid full so you can quickly clean your windshield while on the road.
• Get any cracks in the windshield repaired.
• Use the defroster to eliminate any interior fog or condensation.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

You may not be as concerned about weather conditions affecting your driving in the summer, but the sun can actually cause visibility issues. The bright sun can make it hard to see, causing serious accidents.

Seek legal help from a Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC. We can do many things to assist you with your case, such as reconstruct the accident scene, ensure you get medical treatment, calculate losses, examine evidence, and determine liability. Fill out the online form or call 281-347-3247 to schedule a consultation with our office.

Source:

ehstoday.com/distracted-driving/article/21284810/here-comes-the-sun-that-can-pose-a-problem-while-driving