Why is driving at Sunrise and Sunset an Increased Risk to Safety?

• At sunrise and before sunset the sun can shine directly into drivers’ eyes, leaving many motorists driving with a glare.
• This leaves the driver’s view compromised making it much harder to see the road ahead and identify potential hazards.
• At dusk/sunset, your eyes must adapt to the changing level of brightness, and it becomes more difficult to recognize threats to safety.
• Although the sky may still be light, the road will be darker with deep shadows, and there is less contrast in colors (i.e., the color of oncoming cars).
• It will leave the driver closer to any hazard and leave a much-reduced stopping distance.
• Visibility is particularly poor at dusk and dawn because natural light is reduced and it is not dark enough for your headlights to be 100% effective.
• Driving at these times is often associated with tiredness among drivers who have driven through the night or are returning from a hard day of work.
• Exhaustion severely affects focus and reaction time, so it is advisable to keep driving to a minimum in these circumstances.
• It is especially dangerous for the elderly drivers experiencing natural, age-related changes in vision.

Vulnerable Road Users

Not only drivers of motor vehicles and trucks share the roads at sunset and sunrise. It is important to recognize that many other more vulnerable road users may be sharing the roads at these times.

• Be very alert to the pedestrian heading to and from work and especially the child pedestrian.
• Many runners/joggers use the roads at these times for a training run.
• Cyclists also most often do their training rides at this time when it is not so warm.
• They may be especially vulnerable when heading towards the direction of the rising and setting sun when passed by faster moving vehicles and drivers with reduced visibility.
• As drivers tend to focus on driving more to the side of the road in reduced visibility, it significantly increases the risk to cyclists.
• Most crashes into cyclists occur on weekday afternoons, and the risk of cycle accidents is 4-5 times greater in darkness than in daylight.
• Cycling with a front and rear light will make you more visible, especially in the early morning or evening.  Use a flashing red light at the rear and a solid beam white light at the front.
• Cyclists need to remain very attentive to driving as close to the side of the road as possible and remain in single file.
• Drivers in rural areas need to remain attentive to the presence of livestock and wildlife, particularly around and after sunset.

Safe Driving Techniques When Driving at Sunrise and Sunset

Preparedness of the Driver

An informed road user is a safer road user. We would like drivers to be alert of risks, to be well prepared and able to make the necessary adjustments when required.

• Think ahead of the planned drive, the potential threats on the road and be ready to adjust the way you drive.
• Many drivers can self-regulate by limiting their driving in low light situations, such as at dusk, dawn or night.
• Ensure alertness by avoiding driver tiredness, planning your rest stops and avoiding all driver distractions.
• Be mindful of other drivers, and switch to your low beams if there’s oncoming traffic or if you are following another vehicle.
• Have good sunglasses available to you within easy reach.
• Invest in polarized sunglasses – they can help reduce glare.
• Avoid wearing tinted sunglasses at night, though they may be helpful during dusk and dawn when the sun is still out.
• Utilize your sun visor – it can help to block out the sun.
• Let your eyes adjust – The human eye naturally adjusts to the darkness, but it can take up to 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to darkness fully and drivers should reduce speed during this transitional time.
• Be conscious of vision changes. As we age, it is natural to experience vision changes that affect our visibility in low light situations, such as dusk and dawn.
• A 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see comfortably over a 30-year old driver.
• Limited light can affect depth perception, color perception, contrast sensitivity and peripheral vision.
• Get regular check-ups for conditions like macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma.