When the clocks shift, the light on familiar routes changes almost overnight, and that is when small oversights behind the wheel can turn into big problems. Road safety experts keep coming back to one simple fix that costs very little and can sit in the glovebox for years. They are urging drivers to stash a decent pair of sunglasses in the car so it is always there when the sun suddenly hits the windscreen at the worst possible angle.
The reminder is not about style, it is about collisions. As evenings turn darker earlier and low sun cuts across morning and late afternoon traffic, glare can wipe out a driver’s view just long enough to miss a pedestrian, a cyclist or a set of brake lights. Keeping that one small item within reach can be the difference between a controlled stop and a crunch of metal.
Why sunglasses suddenly matter when the clocks change
Once the clocks move, the daily commute often lines up perfectly with low sun on the horizon, and drivers who felt fine the week before can suddenly be squinting through bright streaks of light. Road safety data shared through The AA highlights how quickly that shift can translate into extra risk, with its Accident Ass figures used to flag patterns in collisions around time changes. When the hour moves at 2am on Sunday and evenings become darker earlier, the sun that used to sit higher in the sky can now sit right at eye level for school runs and rush hour, bouncing off windscreens and dashboards at exactly the wrong height.
That glare is not just annoying, it can effectively blind a driver for a few seconds at a time, especially when it reflects from wet roads or the back window of the car ahead. Reports on autumn clock changes describe how Figures from the AA’s Accident Ass have been used to warn that more collisions follow as motorists adjust to new light conditions, with Britons and Brits both facing the same pattern of darker evenings and sharper low sun after Sunday time changes. Safety messages shared with Drivers stress that a simple pair of sunglasses can cut that glare, protect eyes from strain and give drivers back the vital detail they lose when they are forced to squint at the road.
The safety case for keeping sunglasses in the car all year
Experts are not just telling motorists to grab shades on bright summer days, they are asking them to keep a pair permanently in the vehicle so it is there when the clocks change. Guidance aimed at Drivers explains that when clocks go back by an hour at 2am on Sunday, the sudden shift in daylight catches people out, which is why they are urged to keep sunglasses in the car for when clocks change rather than relying on memory the morning after. That advice is echoed again when Britons are told that darker evenings from Sunday will combine with low afternoon sun to create a spike in glare related crashes, with warnings that more collisions on roads have been linked to that mix of fading light and bright sun.
Low winter sun can be even harsher when it bounces off snow or ice, which is why National Highways has been urging drivers in Feb to carry sunglasses as a supposedly summer essential during cold snaps. Officials have pointed out that Britain is bracing itself for conditions where sunlight reflected from snow and wet tarmac can significantly enhance road visibility problems, and that a pair of tinted lenses can cut through that reflected glare far better than a hand over the eyes. Some safety campaigns even highlight that, on snowy days, Even when clouds are around, the bright white ground can still cause painful eye strain, so having shades in the car is a practical way to avoid overexposure.
Glare, fatigue and the rest of the car kit
Sunlight is only part of the problem when the clocks move, because the time change also nudges sleep patterns and reaction times. Road safety advice on Top Safe Driving urges motorists to Adjust Your Sleep Schedule and Begin going to bed slightly earlier in the days before the switch, so the body is not hit with a sudden jolt of tiredness just as traffic patterns change. Other guidance tells drivers to Be Mindful of Changing Light Conditions as daylight saving adjustments kick in, to slow down, increase following distance and expect glare in places that felt routine the week before.
Alongside sunglasses, experts still want drivers to think about the rest of the kit they carry. Winter checklists talk about Warmth and how Key items like blankets and extra gloves can make a huge difference if a breakdown leaves a car stranded, with some public safety messages spelling it out with phrases like Here are seven essential tips and tricks and urging people to Include a flashlight with spare batteries. Another Feb safety push has encouraged motorists to pack a paper road atlas in case navigation apps fail, as well as ice scrapers, de-icer, warning triangles, high visibility clothing and warm clothing so they do not have to dig themselves out of trouble unprepared, with one campaign describing this as an unusual but essential item from Sunday for those who rely heavily on phones.
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