Have you ever suffered on the road from what you would refer to as night blindness? This is one of the most common complaints from adult drivers. After the sun has set, the windshield suddenly becomes your worst enemy.
Car’s headlights seem to blind you, reflections in the glass become distracting, and road signs may seem near impossible to make out. A pair of new glasses is not generally the answer to these annoying problems.
Your first step should be to ensure that your windshield is properly cleaned. If you find yourself looking at your windshield rather than through it, then it probably means that you’ve missed a spot. Proper cleaning means taking your time and, for a truly streak free clean, you may need to use some glass polish. In most circumstances, it will be marks on the inside of your windshield that are distracting you since the outer windshield is more frequently wiped clean from normal driving and the use of your wipers.
If your windshield is now so clean that it’s invisible but driving at night is still an issue for you, then there are a few other things you can try:
- Turn down any lights on your dash. These lights are linked to your headlights, meaning that when it gets dark outside, they all come on. Most cars allow you to dim the lights or turn them off altogether which will help greatly to reduce reflections in your windshield.
- Adjust your rearview mirror. You know that little grip sticking out under your mirror? Have you ever used it or wondered what it does? Well, it is actually meant for just this purpose. When pulled forward, a glass sitting in front of the actual mirror will reflect light from the ceiling of your car (meaning, no light!) rather than reflecting the lights of cars behind you.
- Protect your eyes! We can’t always put the full blame on your windshield. The truth is that it could be your eyes. If it is an especially sunny day, be sure to wear sunglasses. Exposure to the bright light earlier in the day can cause your eyes to take longer to adjust to later in the night. And as always recommended, get your eyes checked regularly.