While winter driving dominates the road safety conversation, summer presents its own risks and one of the most underestimated is sun- dazzle.

As UK drivers hit the roads in brighter months, glare from low sun can turn a clear day into a visibility hazard, often with serious consequences.

Keep reading as we explain the risks of sun-dazzle, how it affects drivers and the steps your organisation can take to manage seasonal visibility hazards.

What is sun-dazzle?

Sun dazzle happens when low-angle sunlight reflects off windscreens, bonnets, or the road, temporarily impairing vision.

It’s most common during:

• Early morning or late afternoon commutes
• Journeys along east–west-facing roads
• Travel through urban areas with reflective surfaces

According to the Department for Transport, sun glare has been cited in over 2,000 recorded incidents , a figure that likely underrepresents the real number.

Why it matters for fleet and grey fleet drivers

Employees who drive as part of their job, whether in company vehicles or their own, are more likely to be on the road during peak glare periods. This adds another layer of risk for organisations trying to manage fleet safety.

Unlike leisure drivers, fleet drivers may not have the option to delay travel. That pressure to “just get there” is precisely what makes sun glare a high-priority concern in driver risk management.

How Healthy Working: Safe Driving helps

At Cardinus, we offer a total risk reduction approach through our Healthy Working: Safe Driving program, a smart, flexible training system tailored for fleet and grey fleet drivers.

Here’s how we address sun-dazzle and other seasonal visibility challenges:

1. Driver awareness training

Drivers learn to:

• Plan for low-sun conditions
• Adjust speed and routes
• Recognise when sun-dazzle is most likely to occur

2. Practical glare reduction tips

Our Healthy Working: Safe Driving program encourages safe, proactive habits:

• Keep windscreens spotless, inside and out
• Carry polarised sunglasses or sun visors
• Maintain greater following distances
• Slow down when glare is at its worst
• Keep a spare pair of sun-specific eyewear in the vehicle

3. Driver Risk Assessment

Each participant receives a personalised risk score and action plan to address areas like poor visibility, reaction times and route planning.

4. In-vehicle driver coaching

Where needed, on-road training reinforces visual scanning techniques and decision-making in real-world glare conditions.

Summer doesn’t have to be a risk

With the right preparation, summer can be safer for everyone on the road. By incorporating Healthy Working: Safe Driving into your fleet strategy, you’re not just reducing accident risk, you’re showing leadership in duty of care, driver wellbeing, and compliance.

Reduce the risk to your drivers and other road users

Download our Healthy Working: Safe Driving brochure to discover how our end-to-end risk management software helps protect fleet and grey fleet drivers.

Want to experience the benefits firsthand? Contact us today to learn more about our free trial option.