LT. COL. JOSEPH A. HARVEY
Director, Driving Directorate
U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center
Fort Rucker, Alabama
As I headed to post that morning, it was like any other day. What I didn’t expect, however, was how Daylight Saving Time would affect my commute. As I turned east onto the highway, I was greeted by the blinding sun. My windshield immediately filled with daylight and my visibility was reduced to almost nothing.
My first instinct was to block the sun with my hand so I could see the road just ahead of me. But this method reduced my field of vision to 60 percent at best. I knew there had to be a better way to drive at this time of day, so I did some research. Here are some techniques I found to make my commute less treacherous.
The first method is avoidance. If I leave for work just 30 minutes earlier, I could avoid the sun before it breaks over the horizon. If I’m too lazy to get up earlier, I could instead leave 45 minutes later when the sun is high enough to not impair my vision. If I chose to travel at my regular time rather than earlier or later, another option is to alter my route so that I minimize the amount of time I am driving east into the sun.
A second method is to keep my windshield clean. Dirt or grime on the outside or inside of the windshield causes the light to scatter, increasing the glare. Cleaning my windshield before departing home would help cut down on the glare. Be aware, however, that using the windshield washer in this situation usually exacerbates the problem.
Another tip is to change my driving habits. When driving in these conditions, I should allow extra space between my car and the vehicles ahead. Because my vision is limited, that extra distance gives me more time to react to any unexpected situation. Driving 5-10 mph slower than the speed limit will also help me in reacting to traffic dangers. In addition, if I allow myself a few extra minutes of travel time, I may not feel rushed in getting to my destination and be less apt to speed or drive aggressively.
Finally, I can filter out the sun using a couple of options. Wearing polarized sunglasses helps filter out the glare, but it’s not a complete solution. Even with a good pair of sunglasses, you can still have problems when the sun is in your eyes. I could also purchase an aftermarket visor that attaches to my vehicle’s stock sun visor. Some of these products are adjustable to fill the gaps regular visors do not cover. Others are designed to be transparent, filtering out glare while still allowing you to see the road. Not all products are created equal, though, so do a little research to ensure you’re purchasing an item with good sun-screening capabilities.
If your commute has you driving into the morning sun, consider incorporating some or all of these tips to improve your safety. After all, there aren’t many things on the road that are scarier — or more dangerous — than a driver who can’t see where he’s going.