Protecting our eyes when we are at the wheel affects our safety, above all if we want to avoid glare. Even if we are not required to wear glasses or contact lenses...
Is it compulsory to carry spare glasses in the car? If we have asked ourselves this question at any time since 1997, we are probably not up to date with what the General Traffic Regulations say. Or we are simply unaware of that point. It is not surprising: around 45% of drivers do not bother to protect their eyesight when they get into a vehicle. What is more, as can be seen in online forums and conversations, there are plenty of people who still believe that they must carry a second pair of glasses with them. It is quite another matter whether it is advisable (to carry a second pair of glasses). If we suffer from short-sightedness, astigmatism or another vision problem, and we drive, the advice is to have a spare pair of glasses just in case.
When the quality of the sunglasses is optimal – we need to be careful with this type of lens and buy them from a suitable shop – and they are also prescription lenses, they will take the place of our “regular” lenses without any problem (that is, the ones we usually wear). But if we need to take off our sunglasses when entering a tunnel – and we are regular wearers of prescription glasses – we will have to put on the glasses we normally wear.
Polarised sunglasses, by preventing reflections and glare, provide optimum vision for driving. But not all of them can be used for driving (very dark ones are designed for water sports or snow, but not for the car), nor are they the right glasses for when it gets dark. Otherwise, grey or bluish filters are the right ones for driving.
Fine for driving without glasses
Is there any penalty related to wearing glasses? Yes, and it involves a fine of up to 300 euros. That is what we will have to pay if our licence shows code 01, which simply indicates that we have a vision problem requiring glasses or contact lenses.
Vision matters a great deal when we drive, even more so in dazzling sunlight, when entering a tunnel, driving at night or at dusk. Sunglasses, prescription or not, for example, are permitted by the regulations… as long as the driver has perfect visibility.