Sun glare can turn a normal drive into a tense, uncomfortable trip in just a few seconds. The worst moments often come right when people are heading to work or back home. In those brief windows, a single bad angle of light can be enough to cause a crash or even a serious semi-truck accident injury.
Sunrise and sunset are troublesome because the sun sits low on the horizon. Instead of shining down from above, it shoots almost straight into your eyes and across the road. That low angle overwhelms your vision, making it harder to see what is in front of you.
The light hits windshields, mirrors, and even tiny dust or streaks on the glass. Those small marks scatter light, creating a bright, hazy wall. Your eyes struggle to pick out brake lights, lane lines, and people crossing the street.
These times of day also match busy traffic patterns. Morning and evening rush hours put more cars and trucks on the road at the exact moments when glare is worst. That mix of low light and heavy traffic can be a dangerous blend.
When glare hits, your pupils tighten and your eyes strain to adjust. Things that were clear a second ago can vanish into a white or orange blur. It may feel like you are suddenly driving into a spotlight you cannot escape.
You might miss small but crucial details. A dark-colored car can blend into the background when the sun is right behind it. A person in a crosswalk or a cyclist near the shoulder may be almost invisible until you are very close.
Your reaction time shrinks because your brain has to work harder to process what little it can see. That delay might be only a split second, but on a busy road, it can make all the difference. A small delay in braking or steering can lead to a rear-end crash or a missed stop.
Truck drivers face their own set of glare problems. Their higher seats and larger windshields can catch more sunlight at the wrong angle. A moment of glare can make it harder for a trucker to see smaller cars close to the cab or in blind spots.
Drivers in cars need to be cautious around trucks during these times. If you cannot see clearly because of glare, there is a good chance the truck driver is struggling too. Sudden lane changes, hard braking, or cutting in front of a truck become especially risky.
A fully loaded truck already needs more distance and time to stop. When glare hides brake lights or lane lines, the odds of a mistake go up. That is how a simple moment of sun glare can grow into a serious highway pileup.
You cannot move the sun, but you can prepare for those danger zones. A clean windshield, inside and out, makes a big difference. Dirt, smudges, and film on the glass capture light and create additional haze.
Good sunglasses with real UV protection help your eyes work better in bright conditions. Use your visor and adjust your seat if you can to angle away from the strongest light. Slowing down even a little gives you more time to react to what you can see.
Extra following distance is also important. If the car ahead has to brake suddenly, you will want more room to respond. If glare gets so bad that you are guessing more than seeing, it is safer to pull over and wait a few minutes for the angle to change.
Knowing when the sun will be low can help you plan safer routes. A street that runs straight east or west will face the worst glare at sunrise or sunset. If possible, choose roads that curve, have more shade, or run at different angles during those hours.
Leave a few minutes early so you are not tempted to speed through bad visibility. Rushing when you cannot see well only adds to the danger. Building in that extra time can lower stress and help you drive more calmly.
Check mirrors and adjust them to reduce reflected light. Small tweaks can remove bright hotspots that distract your eyes. When you park, think ahead about how you will be leaving and where the sun will be.
If a crash does happen in strong glare, injuries can be severe, especially when trucks are involved. A semi-truck accident injury can change a person’s life in seconds. Staying alert to glare risks and adjusting your habits can help protect you, your passengers, and everyone sharing the road during those bright, blinding minutes of the day.
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