British delivery drivers know to take all kinds of weather conditions into consideration; from heavy rain to even the occasional snowfall. One road hazard that may not immediately come to mind, though, is bright or low sun – after all, who doesn’t love a lovely day? However, when you’re out on the roads completing your courier jobs, the sun can cause blinding effects and low visibility, which can result in everything from driver discomfort to something as extreme as an accident.
Luckily, all of this is easily preventable. Read on for some top tips on how to drive safely in bright conditions, so you can go about safely enjoying the remainder of your summer courier jobs knowing you’ve taken all the appropriate precautions.
Viva la Visor
Your vehicle should come equipped with a visor, so if yours doesn’t, talk to your manager about getting one installed. It will make completing your courier jobs not only easier, but also much safer. Visors are incredibly useful, as you can manually position them to block bright rays coming through the windshield as well as through both the left and right side windows.
Break Out the Shades
Visors are wonderful inventions, but sometimes you simply need to break out the sunglasses when conditions are very sunny. When the sun is too low in the sky (this is especially common in the mornings and the evenings), your visor may not block it out properly. Not only will this cause low visibility and annoyance, it may also damage your eyes. Use a good set of shades to protect your sensitive corneas from overwhelming and harmful UV rays.
Be Aware of Others
Even if you’re not driving into the sun while doing your courier jobs (or are already making use of your visor and shades to ensure protection and safety), it’s important to remember that other road users may be experiencing blinding effects. When driving in low or bright sun, it is advisable to make sure you are keeping a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you. Maintain a consistent speed, avoid sudden stops whenever possible and, as always, make sure you pay very close attention to what is happening on the road around you.
Top Tip: Road users often suffer the effects of brightness in the mornings and evenings when the sun is either rising or setting. Remind yourself to make sure you are extra aware of other drivers during these times.
We all love bright days and most of the time we don’t think we get enough of them. But when you drive for a living, even great weather can sometimes be the cause of potential problems. Luckily, most of them are easily avoidable. To ensure complete safety as you drive on the roads through the brightest times of the day, invest in a good pair of shades, adjust your visor as needed and be aware of other drivers. Don’t let yourself be (quite literally) blindsided! Driving can still be safe and fun in the very bright light.
Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.
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