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Some people only take them off to sleep: sunglasses are the most important summer accessory! It is also indispensable for many people in the car, as it looks cool and protects against the dazzling sun. But especially behind the wheel, good visibility and safety are more important than casual looks.
The general rule is this: sunglasses are like a Santa costume – they shouldn’t hinder you while you’re driving. A fine can even be imposed if they impair the driver’s field of view, attention or perspective. The decisive rule in the Road Traffic Law is Article 31, Paragraph 1: “The driver must always control the vehicle in order to fulfill his duty of care.” In other words, the driver must always be able to steer the vehicle without being constrained by, for example, sunglasses. You can make these seven mistakes when choosing the right sunglasses:
1. No prescription glasses
Anyone who wears glasses or contact lenses knows that if visual aids are entered in the driver’s license, sunglasses for the car must also be adjusted for vision. If you need to wear corrective glasses while driving, you will find the note on the back of the driver’s license check card – below the categories is the code “01”. Practical: Opticians offer a discount if you buy sunglasses with your new glasses.
2. The frame is too fat
The wider the field of view, the better! Therefore, the frame of the glasses should be as thin as possible to ensure full vision. The lighter the version, the less annoying it will be on long trips. And it should always be adjusted perfectly so that it does not slip.
3. Very small glasses
It’s not the cold that counts, it’s the safety: up to 60 percent of ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) comes from above or from the side. The bigger the sunglasses, the better. It doesn’t matter if they’re trendy or not: oversized ones also often score when it comes to safety.
4. Save to filter
The windshield and side windows in the car still keep out UV radiation. But if you drive a convertible or wear your sunglasses outside the car, you should pay attention to UV protection: glasses with UV400 filters keep out harmful UV radiation. Although this is not visible to us, it can still cause eye damage at high doses and for long periods of time. If it says UV400 or 100 percent UV protection on the windows, everything is fine.
Anti-reflective coating reduces reflections on the lens and is a must. And sunglasses with polarizing filters pass only directed light while blocking out reflected light – great, so there’s a lot less glare. But: Old car screens can only be viewed from the ideal viewing angle – wrong angle and screens appear dark.
5. Too much coloring
There are five levels: Glasses with level 0 (3 to 20% dimming) can be registered immediately, as they are almost ineffective. And the highest level 4 (92 – 97%) is only for peakers in high mountains, but not allowed to be used in traffic due to poor visibility – see the symbol of the crossed-out car.
On the other hand, levels 1 (20 to 57%), 2 (57% to 82%), and 3 (82% to 92%) are recommended for driving. It makes sense: the higher the dimming level, the better the protection against glare from the sun’s rays. Gradient tinted lenses are practical: they provide full protection when looking into the distance, and when viewed closely, the speedometer, etc. they allow more light to pass through for better reading.
6. Wrong color
Preferably brightly colored? But not for driving: Gray or brown tints are ideal, whereas red, pink, orange, green or blue windows are problematic behind the wheel – they discolor traffic lights or brake lights, for example.
7. This doesn’t work at all!
Wide handles and bulky bezels are taboo – they limit the lateral field of view. Mirrored sunglasses lower the contrast – you may miss the cyclist or pedestrian.
Traditional self-dimming sunglasses have no place in the car, either. They react very slowly to changing solar radiation and allow too much UV radiation to pass through the outside of the car. Since this is absorbed by the windshield, they don’t make enough loud noises in the car. But: By the way, there are tints that respond quickly – ask the optician.
And: Leave your glasses in the tunnel, otherwise you’ll be flying blind at the entrance for a long time until your eyes get used to the sudden disappearing sunlight and tinted windows.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
