British drivers could be slapped with a £100 fine for making a simple error behind the wheel during a blistering heatwave set to hit the UK from Tuesday. Experts have warned drivers could be billed £100 on the spot for wearing the wrong sunglasses while in control of their vehicle. Although wearing sunglasses is not completely against the rules, motorists must ensure they follow certain guidelines. The Highway Code states that drivers should not wear tinted glasses, lenses, or visors if they restrict vision. This is a particular problem at night and can also catch out road users during periods of poor visibility.
The warning comes as the UK is braced for a sweltering heatwave with temperatures could hit as high as 37C over Monday and Tuesday. Keith Hawes, Director of Nationwide Vehicle Contracts said: “Sunglasses can reduce sun glare while driving, but drivers must be wary as they can make LCD screens such as GPS and dashboards appear black or dim, resulting in a lack of attention while driving.”
Stephensons solicitors previously said: “Opticians should be able to advise on the correct percentage of tint for driving. Driving without due care and attention carries a fixed penalty of £100 and 3 penalty points.”
Not all sunglasses are the same, with different lenses coming with varying levels of light transmission. Sunglasses that only transmit between 3% to 8% of light should not be worn on the roads as they are too dark.
Meanwhile, sunglasses that have a light transmission of less than 75% should not be used at night.
The AA previously warned: “Sunglasses sold for general use can be too dark for driving in. Plus, fashion frames could obscure your peripheral vision if they aren’t the right style, so it’s best to choose your shades carefully.”
However, experts at Quotezone have warned that sunglasses could see motorists be penalised for “dangerous driving” in some severe cases,
Greg Wilson, CEO of Quotezone has previously said: “Sunglasses are labelled in four categories to show if they’re suitable for road use. The average pair of sunnies are ‘category two’ and are therefore appropriate for driving.
“However, darker sunglasses in ‘category four’, any small fashion glasses, yellow-tinted glasses or a pair with large side arms can be deemed too dangerous to drive in.”