Inappropriate Sunglasses
Discussion
Driving up the A1(M) on Monday we witnessed two very-near sideswipe incidents within about 5 miles. Situation just about identical in each instance. Light traffic in lane 1 and heavier traffic in lane 2. First incident was a guy driving a Citroen C3 in L1, approching a slower moving vehicle. Guy indicates to pull out but had obviously not seen the BMW 1 series that was alongside him in L2, (front of BMW about level with rear edge of drivers door of C3). BMW driver spots the car moving towards him, leans on horn and hits brakes. C3 blithely drifts into the previously non-existent space, overtakes slower vehicle and moves back into L1. BMW pulls alongside and "remonstrates" with C3 driver then moves ahead. Second incident was same thing but two different cars.
When I overtook each of the offenders, (cautiously), I noticced that each driver was wearing sunglasses with very deep side-frames; i.e. nil peripheral vision. From then on started to look at peoples eye-ware and realised that lots of "fashion" sunglasses and orinary spectacles are either wraparound or have these very deep side-frames.
Surely these types of glasses are not suitable for normal road driving and should carry a warning to that effect. Obviously "style" is more important than safety to some people.
Anyone seen any similar incidents.
When I overtook each of the offenders, (cautiously), I noticced that each driver was wearing sunglasses with very deep side-frames; i.e. nil peripheral vision. From then on started to look at peoples eye-ware and realised that lots of "fashion" sunglasses and orinary spectacles are either wraparound or have these very deep side-frames.
Surely these types of glasses are not suitable for normal road driving and should carry a warning to that effect. Obviously "style" is more important than safety to some people.
Anyone seen any similar incidents.
It does seem to be a common problem, yesterday brought the greyest weather for a while and I saw several drivers wearing semi-opaque black sunglasses. ridiculous.
Anyway, I deliberately bought glasses without the deep side frame a few weeks ago, they don't restrict peripheral vision at all.
Anyway, I deliberately bought glasses without the deep side frame a few weeks ago, they don't restrict peripheral vision at all.
Doesn't make as much difference as you think, as most of these frames sit very close to the eyes with wraparound lenses, so the actual hidden area is quite far back. Also, when checking blind spot, as soon as our eyes move horizontally by a certain number of degrees, we automatically move our heads in the same direction.
Hi there,
I wear wraparound sunglasses. You migh think they reduce preipheral vision, but I've noticed no such problem.
In any case, my peripheral vision in a motorcycle helmet is much less than yours in a car! A blind spot check is generally recommended :-)
I also wear what looks like sunglasses in dull conditions. However, the lenses are Daylight Driving Lenses, which enhance contrast in low light conditions. (Very helpful and highly recommended, incidentally.)
I wear wraparound sunglasses. You migh think they reduce preipheral vision, but I've noticed no such problem.
In any case, my peripheral vision in a motorcycle helmet is much less than yours in a car! A blind spot check is generally recommended :-)
I also wear what looks like sunglasses in dull conditions. However, the lenses are Daylight Driving Lenses, which enhance contrast in low light conditions. (Very helpful and highly recommended, incidentally.)
SVS said:
I also wear what looks like sunglasses in dull conditions. However, the lenses are Daylight Driving Lenses, which enhance contrast in low light conditions. (Very helpful and highly recommended, incidentally.)
I never recommend these, they dont improve contrast as such, they reduce total light transmission to the point where contrast appears improved. It's like wearing sunglasses at night to reduce glare, it does the job simply by reducing all light transmission, but an anti glare coating will actually reduce glare.I think if someone was to use their glasses as a defence should they have failed to see a car that was along side them when changing lane ought to be done for driving without due care. If their glasses prevent them from making decisions based on simple hazard perception then they are wearing the wrong glasses, however their glasses wouldn't stop them from turning their heads and looking over their shoulder before changing lane.
warren182 said:
I never recommend these, they dont improve contrast as such, they reduce total light transmission to the point where contrast appears improved.
They do? Very interesting. My subjective experience is that I spot things more easily/clearly during daylight when wearing the Daylight Driving Lenses. Objectively, am I wrong then?Cheers for any further advice/explanation.
I find it more disturbing that the driver pulling out seems to have ignored the horn of the driver they cut off, and continued with the manoeuvre.
That makes me wonder if the driver did actually know that the BMW was there, but decided to pull out anyway for whatever reason (perhaps the BM had been hovering in the blind spot for a while and the driver was fed up of waiting for the BM to pass, or something like that).
If it wasn't intentional, then it does worry me that someone would ignore a sounded warning from a car that they didn't realise was even there. That could lead to a huge accident.
Not sure about the sunglasses themselves. If the driver was to check their blindspot, that would require a substantial twist of the neck anyway. If I tried to look at my blindspot and instead just saw the inside of my glasses, I'd twist my head further so that I could see what I was trying to look at. That would seem like a logical and probably even a subconscious action. Sounds more likely that this driver didn't check their blind spot at all, in which case the glasses probably made little difference, or they checked their mirrors only, which again would be close to their centreline of vision, or at worst requiring only a small head movement, and again would probably not be affected by the glasses. Or, as mentioned, they cut the car off intentionally.
Having said that, I do agree with the original premise that wearing glasses that reduce your peripheral vision while driving is a bad idea. Trouble can come from any angle and there's no point surpressing your early warning system.
That makes me wonder if the driver did actually know that the BMW was there, but decided to pull out anyway for whatever reason (perhaps the BM had been hovering in the blind spot for a while and the driver was fed up of waiting for the BM to pass, or something like that).
If it wasn't intentional, then it does worry me that someone would ignore a sounded warning from a car that they didn't realise was even there. That could lead to a huge accident.
Not sure about the sunglasses themselves. If the driver was to check their blindspot, that would require a substantial twist of the neck anyway. If I tried to look at my blindspot and instead just saw the inside of my glasses, I'd twist my head further so that I could see what I was trying to look at. That would seem like a logical and probably even a subconscious action. Sounds more likely that this driver didn't check their blind spot at all, in which case the glasses probably made little difference, or they checked their mirrors only, which again would be close to their centreline of vision, or at worst requiring only a small head movement, and again would probably not be affected by the glasses. Or, as mentioned, they cut the car off intentionally.
Having said that, I do agree with the original premise that wearing glasses that reduce your peripheral vision while driving is a bad idea. Trouble can come from any angle and there's no point surpressing your early warning system.
SLCZ3 said:
One thing i have learnt in 39 years of driving is that checking rear mirror and side mirrors is not enough, always turn head 90 deg + and check over right, shoulder (left in other certain countries) for cars overtaking.
Yep, I never go on mirrors, it's a bit of a leap of faith to think anything that might be there will be clearly visible in them. A nice Ariel Atom up your inside for example, no chance to see that in any relatively high car I don't think 
Dave
Judged purely on my own experience, glasses with anything more than a pencil-lead-thin side arm do restrict vision enough to be a hazard. I bought a pair of sunglasses a few years ago which have side-arms of about 8mm depth at the point where they join the main body of the glasses, and I felt quite cut off in them.
I always where aviator style glasses now, equipped with the thinnest side-bars available.
As an aside, with peripheral vision being key for pilots, that is presumably why the aviator style was developed.
Nick
I always where aviator style glasses now, equipped with the thinnest side-bars available.
As an aside, with peripheral vision being key for pilots, that is presumably why the aviator style was developed.
Nick
I've just had my eyes lasered by a top opthamologist, and he was insistent that I should wear wrap-around sunglasses; but this advice doesn't just apply to my lasered eyes, he said this was very important for anyone's eyes. So, it isn't just for style. Having said that, the sunglasses that I bought after the operation have transparent sides so I can see to the sides to some extent. To be honest I think it's more dangerous to be squinting because light is getting in. Aso, don't forget that people's peripheral vision and awareness varies so much that this is probably a bigger factor in road safety. I'm often amazed when I meet my girlfriend or my Dad in a crowded place that they don't spot me unless I'm completely in front of them.
SVS said:
warren182 said:
I never recommend these, they dont improve contrast as such, they reduce total light transmission to the point where contrast appears improved.
They do? Very interesting. My subjective experience is that I spot things more easily/clearly during daylight when wearing the Daylight Driving Lenses. Objectively, am I wrong then?Cheers for any further advice/explanation.
I've always found them very useful. The tinted lenses really reduce eye strain during a 12 hour driving day, but to be honest I tend to avoid the contrast enhancing lenses - if there's enough light I use the tints, if it's darker I do without the glasses all together.
incidentally, they have no side frame and sit close enough to the eye not to present a blind spot at the edge of the lense. Recommended!
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