How Your Visibility Can Decrease Whilst Driving

Good visibility begins at the windscreen. Without clear visibility, we’re unable to accurately determine when to slow down, brake and determine how far away pedestrians, obstructions and other drivers are on the road. Poor visibility even induces fatigue and consequently reduces our driving performance. There are a range of environmental factors that cause poor visibility. From rain, fog and a dirty windscreen, anything that obscures a driver’s line of sight is a hazard. However, there are more hazards than just a dirty windscreen in need of a clean, sun glare being one of them. Whilst not all of these are within our control, it’s important to be aware of them, in order to be better prepared and reduce your chances of being in a collision caused by poor visibility. To prevent you from having an accident caused by poor visibility, the team at Novus Autoglass have put together a list of the most common reasons drivers can’t properly see through their windscreen.

Why Can’t I See Properly Through My Windscreen?

Windscreen Glare

It’s 5 pm in the afternoon. You’re driving home when you take a turn and are hit by the blinding glare across your windscreen. As the most common reason for windscreen glare, it’s without a doubt something all drivers have experienced happening. Occurring during sunrise or sunset, windscreen glare can be incredibly frustrating, as our vision and visibility are substantially decreased.

Besides being frustrating, squinting and trying to reposition yourself out of the glares can be potentially dangerous. Driving with windscreen glare obstructs your vision, distracts you and decreases your road visibility. Even if the glare lasts only a few seconds, it can cause you to deviate from the road and hurt your eyes, making driving unpleasant. You may think a little glare from the sun isn’t something to be overly concerned about, but studies have shown that driving during daylight hours and bright sunlight was the most common weather condition at the time of a car crash. In fact, driving during bright sunlight has a 16 per cent higher risk of being in a life-threatening car crash. Statistics show the glare of the sun is not something to be brushed off. Remember when faced with windscreen glare, don’t panic. There are multiple troubleshooting methods that can help combat that pesky glare. Window tinting in one solution Novus Autoglass can help reduce the glare on your windscreen today.

Dust and Fog

Whilst it may not seem hazardous at first, even a thin layer of dust on your windshield can interfere with your visibility. However, people don’t usually realise the accumulation of how much dust is really on their windshield until they start recognising problems with their windscreen visibility. Drivers may also be unaware that the accumulation of dust can create more fog. When there’s high humidity outside (a common occurrence across Australia), dust particles more easily cling to vehicle windscreens. This is the reason why dirty windscreens fog faster than windscreens that are maintained. We’ve covered the outside of the windscreen, but the inside is also not to be forgotten. For optimal driving conditions, windscreens should be cleaned regularly on the inside as well as outside. If not, dust and grease accumulate, and when in contact with the sun’s glare, creates a concoction ideal for dangerous driving conditions.

Dirty Windscreen

You’ve probably never heard a report on the news of a car accident caused by a dirty windscreen. Yet it happens, more often than you think. That’s because a dirty windscreen reduces your visibility, increasing your chances of experiencing a collision by at least 30 per cent. Most commonly accidents occur during nighttime. But accidents caused by rain, sun glare, fog or dust on the roads are also prevalent, and all contribute to a dirtied windscreen. The two conditions seem to go hand in hand, which is why drivers must maintain a clean windscreen. Even if you think driving with a slightly dirty windscreen during the day isn’t too big of a risk, you’re wrong. Driving with a dirty windscreen during the day is equally dangerous, as dirt scatters light across the windscreen, making it more difficult to see once the sun hits your car. Even in driving simulations, dirty windscreens caused drivers to crash double as often in comparison to when windscreens were clean. Other simpler environmental factors also dirty up windscreens. Dirt and mud are a duo that goes hand in hand with decreasing drivers visibility. And rain amplifies their effect. Often occurring when it’s been raining, even light rainfall can cause windscreens to become dirty. Besides driving in direct rain causing a dirty windscreen, the tires of other vehicles on the road can splash a mixture of water and mud on your windscreen.

How Do I Clean My Windscreen?

We suggest getting into the habit of checking your windscreen (inside and out) before you get on the road. Besides regularly cleaning the outside of your window with water and glass cleaner, you should keep paper towels in your glove compartment to take care of the interior glass. Cleaning your car is easy, it’s getting into the habit of prioritising your windscreen that is difficult for some.

As well as unsightly, dirty windscreens can also hide cracks. Cracked windscreens are 60-70% weaker, putting you at further risk of your glass shattering in the event of a collision. As windscreens provide such a vital element of safety to their drivers, they must be properly maintained and repaired by professionals. If you suspect you have a cracked or damaged windscreen, it’s best to see a certified professional like Novus Autoglass. With every consultation we can provide you with technical advice and provide services to your windscreen needs, ensuring your safety and visibility on the road. Contact Novus Autoglass today on 13 22 34 to book a service. If you’re interested in learning how stress to the inside of your windscreen can cause cracks, read our regularly updated blog which is filled with news, updates and trends across the auto industry.