All drivers in the UK have been warned they face a £ 5,000 fine and three points on their license to wear the wrong sunglasses to drive. The warning comes before the heat wave this weekend.
Over the next week, temperatures will rise across Britain, reaching 33 degrees Celsius in London on Friday. High temperatures are likely to mean a lot more sunshine than usual.
As such, drivers are likely to cast a couple of shadows. But few people realize that wearing the wrong pair could give you a fine. This does not mean that you cannot or should not wear sunglasses, but if they obstruct your sight enough to be considered dangerous, it could put you in trouble.
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A motoring expert has now issued a warning. ClickMechanic’s Andrew Jervis said: “Many of us will welcome a few sunny days, but it could be a disaster for unprepared drivers. We all have a responsibility to drive with care and attention, and we need to be alerting us to any of the issues that may affect our ability to do so is often difficult to drive with the glare of the sun, as it can affect the way we perceive road conditions, while an unexpected burst of light behind a cloud can really hurt our ability to see. “
“It can be worse when the roads are wet after a period of rain, with the sunlight reflecting on the puddles and our eyes. It is important to be on guard against the adverse effects of sun glare while driving, either by wearing sunglasses, removing any shiny objects from the board or by lowering the parasols. “
The AA cited dazzle as one of the leading causes of traffic accidents and stated that “proper sunglasses can prevent this”. However, deciding which sunglasses to wear is a complicated matter, as you may be penalized for the type you wear, and also if you decide not to wear them at all.
It is not a legal requirement to wear sunglasses in bright conditions, but police may still consider you to be “driving without proper care and attention” due to Rule 237 of the Highway Code. The “hot weather” section of this law states that drivers must brake or stop if they are “dazzled by sunlight,” which would indicate that drivers should wear glasses on a sunny day.
This offense would result in a £ 100 fine and three points on your license. Drivers who challenge and lose it could see it increased to £ 5,000 depending on the severity.
The AA consulted with the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians for advice on what sunglasses drivers should wear to drive.
Two essential requirements for driving lenses are that your vision should remain clear and that enough light to allow you to see properly should reach your eyes. The motoring association warned that this could mean that you could also be violating the Highway Code with sunglasses.
He added: “Sunglasses sold for general use may be too dark to drive. In addition, fashion frames may obscure your peripheral vision if they are not the right style, so it’s best to choose your shadows with care.The AA-ready state-of-the-art sunglasses fall into two main categories: “fixed” and “variable” tint.
A fixed tone “stays in the same dark no matter how sunny or dark” and a variable tone “changes its color density when exposed to certain types of light.” All sunglasses must bear the CE mark and comply with the European standard BS EN 1836: 2005.
Top AA Tips on What Sunglasses You Should Wear While Driving
- Have a thorough eye exam every two years to see if you need prescription lenses in sunglasses.
- Talk to your optician about sunscreen and glare options
- Think of a specialized driving lens or ink
- Be aware that everyday sunglasses may not be suitable for driving.
- Always have a pair of spare sunglasses in your car.
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