The Autumnal Equinox is this Saturday, marking the first day of fall and the changing of another season. As we transition from summer into fall, the angle of the sun changes. This happens when the Earth changes the tilt of its axis from direct sunlight over the northern hemisphere to a more neutral, and completely vertical “tilt”. Instead of having direct sunlight over the northern hemisphere like we have during the summer months, there is direct sunlight over the equator.
This causes the sun rays to move closer to the horizon creating a strong glare across the windshield during the morning and evening hours.
“The glare is blinding you, number one. So, the glare can make it much harder for you to see the road and what risks might be ahead.”
Even though we cannot change the angle of the sun, there are some things that you can do to help reduce the glare. The most common is wearing sunglasses, using the visor in your car, and keeping a safe driving distance between you and the person in front of you, but the Maintenance Administrator of Lubbock TXDOT David Barerra gave some not so common tips that people might not think of to help drivers to avoid sun glare.
“Something that we notice is that people will store things on top of their dash. Papers, mail, keep your dash clean. Keep your windshield clean. Do a PM on your vehicle. Clean your windshield inside and out.”
The changing of the seasons is unavoidable, but if you follow these tips, it’ll make your drive easier and the roads safer.
Here are some other links to help reduce the sun glare and make your drive safer:
