Top Tips for Safe Winter Driving

Driving at this time of year can be hard on your eyes. Straining to see in the dark and dazzle from car headlights can make night-driving particularly testing. And in daytime, the low angle of the sun can make glare even more troublesome in winter than summer. So, what can you do to make winter driving safer and easier on your eyes?
 
1: Wear Reflection-free Lenses
Reflection-free lenses help reduce dazzle and sharpen night vision by eliminating distracting reflections. Some manufacturers offer reflection-free lenses specifically designed for night driving: for example,​ Essilor Road Pilot lenses. It's also a good idea to make sure windscreens and mirrors are as clean and smear-free as possible.
 
2: Wear Prescription Sunglasses
Glare from low winter sun can make driving very difficult, especially when roads are wet with rain or snow. Polarised lenses offer great protection from glare as well as enhancing contrast. Special light-adaptive lenses, like Transitions Xtractive, are another great option. While standard photochromic lenses never fully darken behind the windscreen, Transitions Xtractive are specially designed to do so.
 
3: Check your Vision
It is essential to make sure your eyesight is inside the legal standard required for driving. Currently, that means being able to read a number plate at 20 metres. When you get your eyes tested with us, we can check your driving vision more accurately and let you know if your spectacle prescription is up to standard.
 
4: Make sure your Eyes are Healthy
It’s also very important to have your eyes checked for conditions that may affect your ability to drive. Cataracts, for instance, often cause increased sensitivity to glare as well as blurred vision. Other eye diseases that can adversely affect driving include macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
 
If you have any concerns about your vision and driving, please don't hesitate to get in touch for professional advice.