One of the basic requirements of safe driving is "visibility." Any obscurity, such a dirty side-view mirror, a foggy windshield, or another driver's high beams can interfere with the task of safe driving and threaten the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

All drivers can agree that high beams are a definite source of glare, especially at night and on roads without street lights to minimize the blinding glare. Since high beams were introduced, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received complaints about high beams, such as:

• They caused drivers to be blinded for a few seconds
• After drivers were blinded, they were forced to slow down
• Some drivers were involved in a crash after being blinded
• Some drivers complained of almost being in a crash after being blinded

While high beams are a cause for concern, another issue is the glare from the sun, which has similar effects. At times an unprepared driver may encounter intense glare from the sun, which can contribute to or cause a crash, according to the NHTSA.

Sun Glare Can Be Blinding

Sun glare has caused car accidents and multiple pileups, and pedestrian fatalities, some of which have involved young children walking to or from school. A driver involved in a serious or deadly crash may be among one of the thousands who were blinded by the sun, a natural, blinding source.

According to NHTSA, the effects of glare are the same whether the source is high beams or the sun. Either way, glare obstructs drivers' vision and affects driving performance.

As a driver, be aware that the sun's glare is the most intense in the early morning hours and in the late afternoon. Until auto manufacturers come up with innovative designs and technologies to address the sun's glare, keep a pair of polarized glasses within reach; your life or someone else's may depend on it.

If you were injured in a car accident due to glare from high beams or the sun, contact a personal injury lawyer to file a claim for compensation.