Beware of sunstrike when driving in Kāpiti

Kāpiti Coast District Council is reminding drivers to take care on the road around sunrise and sunset following two incidents on Kāpiti roads recently attributed to sunstrike.

Transport Safety Coordinator Bruce Johnston says sunstrike occurs at this time of year when the sun is lower in the sky and can shine directly into road users’ eyes.

“There’s been a couple of driving incidents in Kāpiti attributed to sunstrike, so we’re asking people to remain vigilant when the sun is lower around sunset and sunrise,” Mr Johnston says.

“We’ve heard of one incident on Peka Peka Road in the early evening where a driver was blinded by the sun and crossed the centre line, nearly causing a head-on collision. The other was at the Main St and State Highway 1 roundabout in Ōtaki where a driver and a cyclist collided due to sunstrike from the morning sun.

“We do want to remind road users to take care at this time of year as sunstrike can come on suddenly with the shifting of clouds, a change in direction of your vehicle or when driving past buildings or coming out of tunnels,” he says.

Pointers to help reduce the impact of sunstrike:

• Wear sunglasses when driving with the sun in your eyes.
• Keep your windscreen clean, inside and out (dust and grime on the windscreen can make the effects of sunstrike much worse).
• Use your car's sun visors to block the sun.
• If you experience sunstrike, slow down or pull over until your eyes adjust or visibility improves.

Go to www.metservice.com/towns-cities/paraparaumu for sunrise and sunset times.