Motorists take 13% longer to react to hazard due to sun glare according to research

In what has been a sweltering hot week in which the Met Office issued its first ever extreme heat weather warning for parts of the UK, comparethemarket.com has revealed the impact that sun glare can have on drivers’ reaction times when on the road.

The research discovered that it can take motorists 13% longer to react to a potential hazard in the sunshine, when compared to normal weather conditions.

Commenting on the findings, Dan Hutson, Head of Motor Insurance at comparethemarket.com, said: “Having a quick reaction time is key to being a responsible driver, and you need to be aware of the conditions around you and be able to respond to them in time.

“As The Highway Code sets out in its advice for driving in bad weather, you should make sure you’ve always got time to react to a potential hazard by keeping your distance from the car in front. Tailgating is illegal and should never be done in any weather condition, but you should always allow for bigger gaps between you and the car in front of you in more difficult weather conditions.

“It’s also important to carry out correct vehicle checks before setting off on a long journey and make frequent stops too. Another tip is to have regular eye checks to ensure you meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving.”

London regulators, Transport for London (TfL), were also urging taxi and private hire drivers to take caution. In a social media post a spokesperson said: “The glare from the sun can seriously affect your vision, please keep that in mind when driving.”