Top Eyesight Tips for Staying Safe on the Road
With the Olympics beginning in just 10 days, last-minute preparations are being made for travel to/from London city centre. With repeated assurances that travel alternatives will be made, those who find themselves sitting in heavy traffic before the games may be asking how congestion will be minimised. But when we sit in our cars watching the road ahead for hours on end, what effect does it have on our eyes?
The DirectGov requirements for those wanting to learn to drive state that you must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away. This basic sight test may seem simplistic, but it’s enough to ensure that you would be able to recognise a hazard from a reasonable distance when driving. But when travelling long distances, vision can be compromised through fatigue, light quality and environmental factors.
Choosing the correct glasses prescription for your needs is essential for ensuring you are able to spot hazards, lights, pedestrians and traffic signs within a close enough distance to react appropriately. For some drivers, part-time glasses are required for the road, whilst others with more challenging eyesight may need full-time glasses. At Direct Sight, all our glasses are overseen by qualified opticians during production, so you can feel safe in the guarantee that your eyewear will provide you with the quality and clarity you require.
To reduce the challenging effect of external factors on your vision, there are a few things you can do:
- Ensure your windscreen and mirrors are clean and free from dust or scratches which may impair your vision.
- Make sure you get plenty of rest if travelling for long periods of time. Those who are tired face an increased risk of accidents, so try stopping for a coffee break if you start to feel drowsy.
- In bad weather such as rain or fog, adjust your speed appropriately to accommodate for limited visibility.
- Wear sunglasses on bright days to improve vision but avoid dark blue lenses which are believed to affect the ability to spot coloured traffic lights. Dark grey lenses like those in the D and G DG2063 Q glasses would be ideal for driving on a sunny day, with no sacrifice on style.