Blinded by the light during your commute? How to handle sun glare on Charlotte roads
As the days get shorter and the sun rises later and sets earlier, glare can be an unexpected driving hazard during morning and evening commutes.
Sun glare causes about 9,000 accidents per year in the U.S. and is the second most common environment-related reason why drivers get into crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Most sun glare accidents occur in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is on the horizon, according to Plymouth Rock Assurance, a New England-based home and car insurance company.
Glare from the sun is typically worse in the fall and winter when the sun is lower in the sky since it reflects at a lower angle when its light hits road surfaces, the company said.
At what times is sun glare the worst in Charlotte?
Sun glare is at its worst an hour before sunset and an hour after sunrise, Krista Doyle wrote for Aceable, a Texas-based provider of online licensing.
This means Charlotte drivers can expect the worst sun glare from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 6-7 p.m. at the beginning of fall, according to approximate sunrise and sunset times from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Solar Calculator.
When daylight savings time ends on Nov. 6, glare from the sun will be at its worst from 6:30-7:30 a.m. and 5-6 p.m.
How to navigate glare while driving
Here are some ways you can stay safe on the roads if your view is obstructed by the sun, according to AAA:
Wear polarized sunglasses
Use your sun visor
Leave more following room
Drive with your headlights on
Keep your windshield clean
Check your windshield for cracks
Avoid storing papers on your dashboard
Use lane markings to help guide you
RELATED: Some Charlotte streets feature faded markings. Who’s in charge of repainting them?
This story was originally published October 4, 2022 at 11:59 AM.
