Drivers warned over surprising £5,000 fine for wearing sunglasses

PLENTY of drivers wear sunglasses during the summer months - but are now being warned it could lead to a whopping £5,000 fine.  

Driving experts have said that even though sunglasses are often an important accessory for any driver, some styles can restrict vision while driving.

Some lenses can be tinted too dark and restrict vision during daylight. Bulky frames can also cause blind spots.

According to Rule 97 of the Highway Code, “the clothing and footwear you choose to wear whilst you are driving must not prevent you from using the controls in the correct manner.”

This means that if shades prevent motorists from being able to operate their vehicle safely leading to dangerous driving they are opening themselves up to breaching that rule

Currently, that could mean a face-to-face on-the-spot fine of £100 plus three penalty points but this could be increased to £5,000 plus nine penalty points and a driving ban if the case goes to court.


Despite this, motorists have also been warned it is their responsibility to guard against sun glare.

As reported by The Express, Andrew Jervis from ClickMechanic said: "Many of us will welcome a few days of sun, but it could spell disaster for unprepared motorists.

"We all have a responsibility to drive with care and attention, and we need to be on alert for anything that can affect our ability to do that.

"Sun glare is often tricky to drive with as it can affect how we perceive the road conditions, while an unexpected short burst of light from behind a cloud can really harm our ability to see.

"It can be worse when the roads are wet after a rainy spell, with sunlight reflecting off puddles and into our eyes.

"It’s important to be on guard for the adverse effects of sun glare while driving, whether this is through wearing sunglasses, removing any shiny objects from the dashboard or lowering the sun visors.”