CAJON PASS, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> Fall arrives Monday September 22. The direct rays of the sun is directly above the equator. The sun crosses the equator from north to south. This is known as the autumnal equinox.
This is also the time of the year when drivers notice the sun is in their eyes more often. Eastbound drivers in the morning, and westbound drivers in the late afternoon can be blinded by looking directly into the sun.
This is because for a few weeks around the (vernal equinox in the spring) or the (autumnal equinox in the fall) the sun rises directly due east, and sets directly due west.
Since a large number of roads and freeways run east to west, driving during sunrise and sunset can be a challenge around this time of the year. Be careful if the weather is clear and sunny, because the sun will be right in your eyes!
Be careful not to look directly at the sun itself, or you may suffer irreversible eye damage. Also, you might not be able to see bicyclists, pedestrians, or even other vehicles so please drive the speed limit.
Here are some tips you can use for driving into the sun:
- Invest in polarized sunglasses – they can help reduce glare.
- Utilize your sun visor – it can help to block out the sun.
- Leave more following room – when the sun is in your eyes it can be hard to see what the car ahead is doing. This is one more time when it pays to leave more room between you and the next vehicle.
- Drive with your headlights on to increase your visibility to other drivers.
- Keep your windshield clean, inside and out.
- Check your windshield for pitting and cracks.
- Avoid storing papers or other items on the dashboard.
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