Damn that sun, I can’t see anything!!! Perhaps if I squint or raise my arm that will help???
Meanwhile you continue to drive, whilst potentially suffering momentary blindness which is why during high glare periods there is a higher number of crashes. There is also an increase in car doorings of cyclists as drivers can be momentarily blinded by glare when opening their door.
The duration and intensity of sun glare periods can variate according to location, seasons and weather conditions. There are those perfect “dazzling roads” which exist which align with the sun.
Physically, sun glare impairs the driver’s vision by causing fatigue and even momentary blindness. Immediately afterwards it also has a psychological effect increasing nervousness and anxiety, and affecting attention, decision making and reaction time.
This topic emerged as a gap in NRSPP resources during a recent discussion with potential new NRSPP partner Mars Australia. They shared how sun glare had emerged as one of their mobile workers top two concerns when driving on the road.
NRSPP response is to create our latest Sun Glare Tool Box Talk package which also has something new, our first supporting video as part of the package. The development has been a collaborative effort between Jerome Carslake (Director of NRSPP), Jennifer Rivera-Gonzalez (MUARC), Caitlin Xavier (NRSPP Graphic Design Intern 2020/21) and Tim Roberts (Fleet Strategy) who created our video. This package is a helpful tool for businesses and organisations to make employees/communities aware of the risks.
The package is now available for free download here
The package contains:
- Aid for the promotion of discussion (supporting video)
- Topic background information and fact sheet
- Sun glare risks when driving poster
- Discussion prompt sheet
- Participant attendance record sheet
- Participant self-assessment sheet
- Discussion review sheet
- Supporting PowerPoint Slides