Be Aware of Road Glare: Driving Safely as Seasons Change
The snow is starting to melt and the sun is starting to shine through the grey. Spring is here and all is finally right with the world, at least when it comes to weather.
The heavy snow, rapid melt-offs, and high winds can all contribute to road conditions that actually make the sun a potential road hazard. The water, or thin layer of ice, left pooling on the road, can create a near-blinding glare when it hits your eyes. Part of the reason for this is that we’re just coming out of winter in Alberta, and the sun is pretty low in the sky. The angle the light comes in at can make for some treacherous conditions.
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Pulling down the visor may not always address the problem. If you get surprised by road glare, hitting the brakes suddenly might not leave enough time for those behind you to adjust. Driving on at the same speed, regardless of the glare, could leave you blind to hazards ahead and lead to a serious, event fatal, collision.
So, here are a few tips that’ll help you adapt to this potential danger and enjoy the sun rather than trying to just deal with it.
GO SHOPPING…
…And get a couple pairs of sunglasses. Get one with dark lenses for really sunny conditions and another with a medium range tint for those not-so-sunny days. Having both on hand will allow you to decide which will serve you best in various road and weather conditions.
BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS WHEN DRIVING…
…And ease yourself into left and right-hand turns. You won’t always know what you’re driving into when you make that turn, so taking it easy when the roads aren’t completely dry will help minimize any surprise sun-glare. Plus, making turns slowly is just a standard safe driving practice, so it isn’t a big change.
TAKE A FEW EXTRA MINUTES….
…And clean your windshield. Inside and out. If dirt, dust or greasy grime build up on it, it could get to the point that you feel like you’re looking through fogged glass. So, clean it. Keep an eye on your windshield washer fluid, too, and top it off before you head out on long trips or simply when it starts to get a bit low.
Tridon is committed to safety on the job, on the way TO the job and on the way home. So if you have any questions about occupational safety, or any topics you’d like us to address, let us know.
