How to Beat Road Glare? Start with Polarized Sunglasses

LAHAINA, Hawaii, Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- We've all been there. A sunny day. A relaxing drive. Then it hits you. At first, you squint. Then, suddenly, you can't see a thing.

Glare, whether it's from a stunning Fall sunset or reflections off other vehicles, can be more than just annoying. It can be downright dangerous. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 9,000 accidents were caused by glare in 2014 alone.* This risk becomes further amplified during seasons where the sun is setting during the heart of rush-hour traffic.

So what can you do to lessen the dangers of glare when driving? 

The first, and best, option to fight glare is wearing a pair of quality polarized sunglasses, like those offered by Maui Jim, a premium sunglass manufacturer founded in always-sunny Hawaii. Polarization reduces glare by limiting the amount of horizontal light reaching your eyes. Besides lessening the potential dangers of glare, polarized lenses can improve clarity and contrast, while reducing eye fatigue.

Before choosing a pair of polarized sunglasses, keep in mind that not all polarization is the same. Some lower-quality sunglasses claim to offer polarization, but may only block 10% of glare.

Maui Jim^® Sunglasses, on the other hand, feature their patented PolarizedPlus2^® lens technology, which eliminates 99.9% of glare. Even better, Maui Jim lenses enhance natural light, instead of simply dimming or filtering out light frequencies, which leads to improved color, clarity and detail. This not only makes your drive less dangerous, but more enjoyable as well.

One other sunglass consideration is the lens color. Maui Jim offers four distinct lens colors to suit any driving condition. The Maui HCL Bronze^® lens, for example, is perfect for anything from full sun to overcast, while still offering Maui Jim's legendary polarization and color-enhancement benefits. On sunnier days, a darker lens color, like the Maui Jim Neutral Grey, might be a better option.

Beyond sunglasses, a few other tips for limiting the risks of glare-induced accidents include maintaining a safe distance between the vehicle in front of you, keeping a clean windshield and using your headlights for increased visibility.

Glare is an unavoidable part of driving, but fortunately, the risks it poses can be lessened dramatically. A pair of quality polarized sunglasses like Maui Jims, and a few common-sense practices, can keep you driving (safely) off into the sunset.

*NHTSA, DOT HS 812 115, February 2015

SOURCE Maui Jim