How To Reduce Glare When Driving
You might not think that windshield glare is much of a problem. But at its very worst, it can severely obstruct your view and lead you to be involved in a serious accident.
Why is glare dangerous?
If you’re driving in the direction of the sun it can shine directly into your eyes blinding you. It can also reflect off the asphalt in the road and blind you, too. It can happen at any time of the day, even at night. Both street lights and headlights from oncoming vehicles can cause glare.
When this happens, glare can cause you to squint or to completely close your eyes. This is incredibly dangerous when driving, especially at high speeds. Closing your eyes for just a second can cause you to lose control and lead to horrific accidents.
How to Reduce Windshield Glare
One of the safest things you can do when driving is to reduce glare. The good news is that there are many ways to do so. One of them is to wear sunglasses while driving, but there are also other, more effective solutions, too.
Tip #1 – Get your windshield glass tinted
If you live in a sunny place like Arizona and drive regularly, it would be good to get your windshield tinted. Be careful, though. Different states have different laws regarding what is legal when it comes to window tinting. Common restrictions include:
- How much of the windshield you can tint
- Limits on how dark you can make it
- The type of tint you can use.
Tip #2 – Repair your windshield for chips and cracks
Chips and cracks in your windshield can cause the sun to reflect in unpredictable ways. This can make glare even more dangerous. You can’t tint cracked windows, either, which is why it’s a good idea to get a cracked windshield repaired immediately.
Tip #3 – Polish your windshield
Your windshield can get incredibly dirty over time. Whether it’s a latent factory defect or the natural wear-and-tear that comes as a result of driving, scratches and pits often occur. These can also make glare unpredictable and cause even more discomfort for the driver. Again, have an auto body repair shop polish your glass to remove dirt, scratches and pits. The cleaner and the more even your windshield, the less impact glare will have.
Tip #4 – Avoid glossy dashboards
Your pimped up dashboard may look cool, but it could be causing glare. These snazzy windshields tend to be overly reflective. An easy way to reduce the impact of glare is to choose a matte dashboard instead of a glossy one.
Tip #5 – Get better windshield visors
Standard visors that come with cars are designed to protect both the driver and the front-sear passenger from glare. But under the brightest of conditions, even these are sometimes not enough. The good news is that you can easily buy custom visors that offer even more protection.
With these tips, you wouldn’t have to worry about the dangers of glare and you can reduce the risk of getting in a serious collision.
