Drivers don’t just have to be careful of slippery roads in the winter months. Glare caused by a low sun is twice as dangerous as fog, crosswinds, heavy rain and storms combined, warn DEKRA accident experts.
In 2023, blinding sun led to 2,529 accidents in which 3,274 people were injured, of which 31 were fatal and 529 were seriously injured, reports the Federal Statistical Office. That is almost twice as many accidents as in other weather conditions. “The danger of glare is that it often occurs unexpectedly. No matter whether I’m driving out of a tunnel or an underground car park, whether I’m coming over a hill or around a bend: when I suddenly look into the bright sunlight, I often can’t see much at first,” explains Danijel Cakeljic, lighting expert at DEKRA.
“The eyes have to adapt to the new lighting conditions, and that can take a second or two. But during this time you are often traveling largely blind.” At 50 km/h, for example, a vehicle covers a distance of around 28 meters within two seconds. In these situations, blinded drivers’ contrast vision is reduced, so that objects at the edge of the field of vision, such as pedestrians or cyclists, are more difficult to recognize. In addition, the eye finds it more difficult to focus when looking to the side under such conditions.
In order to reduce the risk of accidents caused by blinding sun, the accident expert recommends careful driving on sunny days, especially in the morning and afternoon when the sun is low. “Be prepared for blinding situations, which means slowing down and increasing the distance. However, sudden braking should be avoided in order not to endanger following vehicles. It is also helpful to put the sun visor in a suitable position and have your sunglasses ready. In severe blinding situations, there is nothing left but to move forward carefully.
Text and photo: DEKRA
