Analysis of DfT statistics shows more than 33,000 casualties were caused by dazzling sun during the last decade.
Reported by Belfast Live, the DfT stats show 2,369 casualties were attributed to dazzling sun in 2021 – 558 (24%) resulting in serious injury including 19 deaths.
It means there have been a total of 33,399 casualties with dazzling sun among the contributing factors in the last 10 years – with an average of 653 KSIs per year.
The article has been published to coincide with Road Safety Week and also references the findings of a survey carried out by Glasses Direct in partnership with Transitions.
The survey questioned 2,000 drivers, half of which were legally required by law to wear prescription glasses when driving.
It found that 14% of drivers had been involved in a collision or near-miss because of impaired vision (i.e. sun glare) on the road.
Meanwhile, almost three-quarters still regularly wore non-prescription sunglasses to drive during the day, despite 37% saying they struggled to see clearly when driving with standard sunglasses.
The research also identifies some other gaps in knowledge around appropriate eyewear on the road. Over half of respondents (55%) did not know if their sunglasses were legally appropriate for driving.
David Hutchfield, head of professional services from Glasses Direct, said: “If you need to wear glasses for driving — indicated by a 01 code under section 12 on your driving licence — then you must also get sunglasses that adhere to your prescription and not just off-the-shelf glasses.
“Concerningly, this doesn’t seem to be common knowledge as only 5% of drivers who are required to wear glasses (and have the code) could accurately identify it.”
As part of Road Safety Week, Glasses Direct and Transitions have teamed up with Dr Alex George, A&E doctor and TV personality, to remind drivers of road safety and how to adjust to the changing seasons.
Dr George said: “Low winter sun can pose a real hazard to drivers, but despite this, only three in 10 of us will consider how our route will be impacted before travelling, and only one in three drivers identified that west facing roads are most likely to be impacted by sun glare when driving at sunset.
“It’s easy to be dazzled either directly or by the sun’s reflection on a wet road, so wearing the correct lenses, with prescription if necessary, can help reduce this and improve your visibility while you drive.”
I’ve noticed too many drivers driving into the low sun with the same care-free abandon as they do when they drive in fog….and around blind bends for that matter. If more drivers had the nouse to look beyond the vehicle in front – or even beyond the bonnet of their own cars – there would be less collisions all round.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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