NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

When driving through challenging weather conditions, there’s a lot to consider.

And whatever the season, there will be times when drivers are faced with light blearing through their window – be it on a hot summers’ day, or when the winter sun bounces off crisp white snow.

Usually, drivers can combat bright lights by wearing their driving sunglasses.

But are there rules about wearing sunglasses while behind the wheel, and which ones are OK to wear?

Yes, you’re allowed to wear sunglasses while driving.

However, rule 237 of the UK’s Highway Code states that you must slow down ‘if you are dazzled by bright sunlight’, or stop ‘if necessary’.

And there are rules about the type of sunglasses you can wear, as some are unsuitable for driving.

According to a guide by the AA, which shares advice from the Optical Suppliers Association (formerly the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians), your driving sunglasses should:

Sunglasses and their lenses are also ranked from categories zero to four (and labelled as such by law), which lets you know how much light is able to filter through the tint.

This is important, as category four sunglasses are classed as ‘very dark’ and are too dark to be suitable for daytime or nighttime driving, meaning they’re not allowed.

In fact, category four sunglasses should specifically say ‘not for driving or road use’ when you purchase them.

This might include some sunglasses bought for fashion purposes.

Sunglasses ranging from a ‘light tint’ to a ‘dark tint’ (categories one to three) aren’t suitable for nighttime driving, but are OK during the day. Yellow-tinted sunglasses aren’t suitable for night use, either.

The AA says category two sunglasses – or ‘medium tint’ – are recommended for daytime driving.

Meanwhile Specsavers says on its website: ‘Sunglasses with category three lenses are best for daytime driving conditions – any higher is considered too dark to drive safely.’

These glasses are classed as having a ‘dark tint’, but are also ‘the most common’ category, Specsavers notes.

There are also two types of tinted sunglasses to consider: variable tint and fixed tint.

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Not all variable tint sunglasses are suitable for driving, though some are. Fixed tint sunglasses can be good for driving, particularly those with polarised lenses, as they reduce glare.

However, before you make any purchases, you should speak to an optician to ensure your driving sunglasses are road-safe – whether you have a prescription or not.

Opticians such as Specsavers, Vision Express and Boots Opticians can help ensure you have the appropriate sunglasses.

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