One of the most important things that you do while driving is pay attention to your environment. Scanning regularly, checking mirrors, and paying attention to road signs are all things that absolutely crucial while behind the wheel and can make the difference between arriving at your destination safely.
Integral to your ability to do all of these things is your eyesight. Taking care of your eyes, making sure they are protected and not overworked, are not necessarily things that we think a great deal about when it comes to driving, and yet it's incredibly important. Our health, and our eye health, has a direct impact on how we drive and how we feel as we are driving.
In an article for Driving, Justin Pritchard discusses what drivers can and should be doing to ensure that they are taking care of their eyes. It's not just about your ability to effectively scan your environment. There's actually a whole host of reasons why you should think more about how your eyes are impacted when driving:
"Ensuring your eyes can do their job properly at all times by protecting them from strain and fatigue helps maximize your safety as a driver, and keeps those peepers performing optimally at the wheel."
Different weather conditions can have an impact on both our visibility and the strain we are putting on our eyes. For example, Pritchard points out that driving in sunny weather without sunglasses means that you're forced to squint in order to see better. Squinting impairs your ability to get a full view of the road but it also puts a strain on your eyes, a strain which can result in fatigue, discomfort, and stress, all of which inevitably take a toll.
The solution? Investing in a pair of driving glasses that enhance your ability to see in sunny weather but also protect your eyes from UV rays. Although, as Pritchard points out, UV rays are not just something you need to worry about when it's sunny. They can penetrate through clouds, making it a good idea to wear driving glass with UV protection on overcast days, as well.
While wearing a pair of sunglasses, or glasses that will otherwise aid in helping you better observe your surroundings, may seem like a small thing, but they can actually make a huge difference. The benefits of wearing driving glasses can permeate almost all aspects of road safety, from alleviating strain to increasing your ability to spot hazards ahead:
"By dramatically enhancing a driver's ability to see comfortably, driving glasses can make it easier to see detail further away, make it more comfortable to glance around while performing mirror checks, and can even fend off headaches."
Ultimately, Pritchard argues that glasses are important because they can help you relax and feel more comfortable when behind the wheel. The more comfortable you are driving, the more likely you are to truly take in your surroundings and respond accordingly.
For more on why driving glasses are a great investment and can help increase your safety while driving, check out the original article in Driving.
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