Wearing a face covering whilst driving? How to beat “foggy glasses” and a potential £1,000 fine

As more drivers return to work, cabbies and other professional drivers wearing both face coverings and glasses are experiencing a new phenomenon; foggy glasses.

Face coverings are now mandatory in all shops, supermarkets, banks and takeaways. Whilst the Department for Transport (DfT) stated that regulations for public transport did not cover taxis and private hire, they urged cabbies and operators to implement measures to protect drivers and passengers.

Many private hire operators across the UK have now placed mandatory usage of face masks for both drivers and passengers as a condition when a journey is booked.

However, for those who wear glasses, the problem of foggy glasses now exists. At its worst, your vision can be severely impaired in a couple of breaths as your glasses steam up.

Driving with impaired vision can be both dangerous to yourself, your passengers and your bank balance. If you’re found to be driving with less than adequate vision, you face up to a £1,000 fine, 3 points on your licence or a potential disqualification from driving. The police can also request to have your licence revoked with immediate effect if they believe you pose a risk to the public. 

So how can you beat the steam? There’s now been a couple of tips and tricks posted online. One involves using surgical tape to create a seal across the bridge of your nose and the covering. The second involves a well placed piece of tissue.

To watch the tips in action, Joseph J. Allen, OD FAAO from Doctor Eye Health, runs through the life hacks to beat the fog in this handy video: