Sun glare car accidents happen when a low sun shines straight into a driver’s eyes and washes out brake lights, signals and people in the road for a few critical seconds.
Winter brings more of it, because the sun stays low and the morning and evening commutes line up with sunrise and sunset.
Why Is the Winter Sun So Hard on Drivers?
The winter sun travels a low path across the sky, so it sits near eye level for more of the day. The National Weather Service notes that at the winter solstice the sun appears at its lowest elevation. Shorter days also push commutes into the hours when the sun is near the horizon.
Glare belongs on the same list as the other seasonal hazards in our look at weather-related crash risk. The difference is that glare shows up on clear days, when the road itself may look perfectly safe.
How Sun Glare Car Accidents Happen on U.S. Roads
The City of Palo Alto warns that near sunrise and sunset, drivers may be blinded temporarily by the brightness of a sun low on the horizon. It calls this a particular danger during commute times, when many people share the road.
Glare tends to set up a few familiar crash patterns:
- Rear-end crashes. When the sun is in your eyes, it is hard to see what the car ahead is doing, as Michigan’s Secretary of State points out.
- Intersection and turning crashes. Oncoming drivers may be dealing with glare too, so neither of you may see the other clearly.
- Pedestrian and cyclist crashes. People that walk or ride can disappear in the bright light. Palo Alto adds that a cyclist’s long shadow points toward the drivers who cannot see them.
Direction matters. Palo Alto advises extra care when traveling east in the morning and west later in the day. For more on how drivers and walkers share busy streets, see our look at pedestrian crashes in downtown areas.
A Real Example: Colorado’s Winter Glare Zone on I-70
Some stretches of road get hit harder because of how they are built. The Colorado Department of Transportation has warned drivers about eastbound Interstate 70 up Floyd Hill, east of Idaho Springs. There, CDOT says, the sun’s angle combines with the hill and the highway’s layout to create blinding glare.
In its 2025 release, CDOT said eastbound Interstate 70 at Floyd Hill may close on sunny mornings from early November through February, from sunrise to 8:30 a.m., because of that glare. Its advice to drivers works on any road where the sun sits low:
- Plan travel through known glare spots before sunrise or later in the morning.
- If you are suddenly blinded, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually instead of slamming on the brakes.
- Wear a good pair of sunglasses and keep the windshield clean inside and out.
Your Glare-Ready Driving Plan
The table sorts the advice from official sources by when you use it.
| When | What to do | Who recommends it |
|---|---|---|
| Before you leave | Clean grease and grime off the windshield, inside and out | City of Palo Alto, CDOT |
| Before you leave | Check the windshield for pitting and cracks, and clear papers off the dashboard | Michigan Secretary of State |
| Before you leave | Keep polarized sunglasses within reach | Michigan Secretary of State |
| On the road | Lower your sun visor and drive with headlights on | Michigan Secretary of State |
| On the road | Leave more following room and slow down near intersections and corners | Michigan Secretary of State, City of Palo Alto |
| Glare hits hard | Use lane markings to guide you, and ease off the gas instead of braking hard | Michigan Secretary of State, CDOT |
| You cannot see | Safely pull over and wait for the glare to pass | City of Palo Alto |
Palo Alto also asks drivers to give pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists extra space when the sun is low.
Documenting a Glare-Related Crash Anywhere in the U.S.
After a crash, write down the time, the direction you were driving and where the sun was. A photo taken facing your direction of travel can show the glare as you saw it. These details fade fast once the sun moves.
The police report records the officer’s view of conditions and contributing factors. Request a copy and check that the conditions it describes match what you remember. Speaking with an attorney may help you understand your options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sun Glare Car Accidents
What causes sun glare car accidents?
A low sun shining into a driver’s eyes can hide brake lights, signals and people in the road. Glare is strongest near sunrise and sunset, when the sun sits near the horizon.
Why is sun glare worse in winter?
The winter sun stays low in the sky, and shorter days put commutes closer to sunrise and sunset. The National Weather Service notes the sun is at its lowest elevation at the winter solstice.
What should I do if sun glare blinds me while driving?
Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually instead of braking hard. If you still cannot see, pull over safely and wait.
Do polarized sunglasses help with glare?
Yes. Michigan’s Secretary of State recommends polarized sunglasses to help reduce glare.
Get Your Crash Report
Bright sun can leave you with more questions than answers about how a crash happened. At Local Accident Reports, we can help you get your police report for free through our site.
To learn more, you can reach out to our team directly at 888-657-1460.
Last reviewed: November 2026
This post was reviewed by Hernán Beresnak, Lead Editor, Local Accident Reports.
Content is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Local Accident Reports is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. See our full disclaimer at https://localaccidentreports.com/disclaimer/ .
