UK drivers warned they risk £5,000 fine if they are wearing sunglasses
UK drivers warned they risk £5,000 fine if they are wearing sunglasses
UK drivers warned they risk £5,000 fine if they are wearing sunglasses
Drivers caught wearing sunglasses can be slapped with large fines of up to £5,000 according to the Highway Code.
Despite sunglasses helping to prevent the sun from blinding drivers, the Highway Code enforces that drivers should stop or slow down when affected by sunshine.
Experts warn that while many believe sunglasses heighten road safety, they may in fact be a risk due to the blinding glare by low light and reflections from puddles or oncoming traffic.
People caught wearing tinted lenses and visors that restrict visibility could be slapped with penalties ranging from points on their licence, unlimited fines and potentially disqualifications.
Glare is frequently blamed for causing car accidents
PXFuel
This warning has clearly concerned many Britons as UK Google search results for "What are polarised sunglasses?" has rocketed by 200 per cent.
Polarised sunglasses are designed to minimise glare from reflecting light.
Vision Direct optician, Nimmi Mistry advised that people should carefully consider the type of tint they choose in their sunglasses.
She said: "Choose brown or grey tints for your sunglasses, and this ensures that your perception of colour isn't distorted while helping protect your eyes from potentially harmful UV rays and distracting glare."
Drivers should take careful consideration when buying sunglasses for on the road
Stephen Craven
According to Jas Thiara of Alsters Kelley solicitors in the UK, it is a legal requirement for sunglasses to be labelled with their filter category number.
Lenses come in categories 0-4, which refers to how dark or dense the lenses are.
She said it was "recommended to use filter category two for daytime driving but is not suitable for night driving".
Specsavers describes category two lenses as "moderate lenses for protection against glare".
The head of Your Red Car, Denton Brock, added: "Keeping up with the Highway code to avoid fines and penalties is essential.
"Always take extra caution when purchasing a new pair of sunglasses, and make sure any accessories in your vehicle are law-abiding."
The AA advises to always keep a dedicated pair of driving sunglasses in your car.
They have listied some top tips for choosing safe lenses, such as ensuring they carry the CE mark, have hard anti scratch coating and a good quality anti reflection coating.
They warn sunglasses with deep side arms can block peripheral vision and should be avoided for driving.
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