Dazzling sun causing accidents

16 Oct 2013 at 10:18

There has been a significant increase in the number of accidents resulting from dazzling sun affecting motorists' vision.

Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) reveal a 12% rise between 2011 and 2012, with the bright sunshine accounting for a total of 2,905 accidents last year.

Some 41% of these accidents occurred on A-roads compared to just 1.7% on motorways.

Prestone, which manufactures screen wash, claims the increase in accident rates attributable to dazzling sun is consistent with weather data from the MET Office.

For instance, there were 277 hours of autumn sunshine in 2011 versus almost 293 hours for the same period in 2012.

October is one of the months in which the risk of dazzling sun is particularly high, as sunset occurs earlier and increasingly coincides with rush-hour traffic.

Damper roads also compound the problem, meaning commuters should be wary when travelling home from work as even the smallest accident can bump up future car insurance premiums.

The DfT figures show that weather-related conditions, such as rain, sleet, snow and fog, accounted for 2,448 accidents in 2012; while headlight glare, spray from other vehicles and dirty, scratched or frosted windscreens were a factor in a further 814 accidents.

Copyright Press Association 2013