two people in front seats of car

Sunstrike is a blinding glare that can be incredibly dangerous for motorists during winter months in Aotearoa. It is important to plan ahead; stay alert; slow down; and drop back.

It can happen at any time of the day but is most likely during the morning or afternoon, when the sun’s rays can hit your windscreen at a low angle, making it difficult, or even impossible, to see.

One way to help combat this and improve visibility is keeping the inside and outside of your windscreen clean, as excess dust or grime can increase the effects of sunstrike.

Keep a clean waffle-weave microfibre cloth handy to wipe the inside of your windscreen. Sun visors also help reduce glare. Before heading out, check your water and window washer fluid levels are full.

If possible, keep polarised sunglasses in your car to wear to minimise the amount of sun in your eyes.

When you can’t see at intersections due to sunstrike, look outside your windows and proceed extremely slowly until the sunstrike clears.

If you are struggling to see or don’t feel comfortable driving in the conditions, pull over safely and wait a few minutes to see if the conditions improve or the sun moves into a different position.

Pay attention to who else is on the road, including cyclists and pedestrians, who may also experience sunstrike and not see vehicles approaching.

Increasing your following distance gives you more time to react, and reducing speed can help ensure everyone using the road gets home safely.

For more information about driving safe in winter, visit www.selwyn.govt.nz/winterdriving

Last modified: 01 Jul 2024 2:03pm