7 tips for the right perspective in the car

Anyone driving around on an autumn afternoon has already experienced this: you turn a corner or take a bend and the now low sun burns your eyes and blocks your view of the road. For one thing, because the sun directly blinds you; second, the light refracts at every speck of dirt and every streak on the windshield, making the glass nearly opaque.

Yes, the sun is a natural phenomenon and we cannot influence it. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take action. Here are 7 tips against the blinding sun:

1. Ignore clever hints

“Always drive with the sun behind you” – great idea, thanks. There are, of course, trivial remedies against the blazing sun: folding the sun visor – it also helps the side window if you unhook it and turn it to the side – and wearing sunglasses are the two most important. But: If the sun suddenly hits your face, that’s usually not enough.

2. Wear good sunglasses

Because it also depends on the quality of the sunglasses (here are tips for choosing the perfect sunglasses for driving).

3. Pre-clean the windows

If the windshield is milky white and opaque as soon as the sun hits it and the rays are breaking through dirt, cleaning is the only thing that helps – preferably early and regularly. Also from the inside: For example, moisture and cigarette smoke accumulate as a thin layer of oil on the windows.

4. Maintain and timely replace windshield wipers

If the blades of the windshield wipers are damaged, for example, by the slightest crack, they will draw lines on the windshield, preventing you from seeing ahead. Therefore, replace the wiper blades regularly. If you operate the windshield wipers, only if the windshields are also wet – ie in rain, snow, fog or to clean the windshield with additional washer fluid. This prevents damage caused, for example, by dirt particles. Of course, you also need to refill the wiper fluid regularly.

Never move: never try to free a frozen windshield with windshield wipers – this will tear the windshield wiper blades.

5. Drive slower, keep your distance

If it suddenly dazzles – immediately step off the accelerator, open the sun visor and steer. Step aside to put on sunglasses if needed. But even if you can have a clear view again later, this is not necessarily the case for the drivers ahead of you: So drive slowly, keep your distance and be alert.

6. Turn on the dipped beam

While this may not help you, it makes it easier for others to get to know you. Of course, the auto light doesn’t react in bright sunlight, so you have to manually turn on the light. In addition, the taillights are also turned on – in the position of daytime running lights, in the vast majority of car models, only the headlights turn on.

7. Correct sitting position

Finally the most important tip. Too many people are almost in the driver’s seat – it looks great, but you rarely see what’s going on around the car. And: The lower you sit, the smaller the angle the sunshade covers and the more often you are dazzled.

The higher you sit, the more useful the sunshade will be. So sit properly in the car, that is, sit so high that little more than a fist fits between your head and the headliner. And with the backrest as straight as possible (Here we show you how to adjust the seat correctly).