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Budd Stanley
Blinded by the Light
2 of 2
Budd Stanley
Blinded by the Light
These Teraflex sunshades take away the glare but allow you to still see the trail ahead.
By Tom Severin, photos courtesy of Budd Stanley
It was a beautiful day with a blue sky, light breeze, and warm temperatures. Perfect for four-wheeling and we were nearing the end of a long day. We had encountered a lot of obstacles on this trail, and we were tired.
At about 4 p.m., we were climbing the final hill. Beyond that was an easy route to the highway, and a relaxing evening at home. This was no run-of-the-mill hill, though.
We were met with deep ruts and torn-up soil. Struggling to hold traction on the soft soil, we slowly crawled the long, very steep hill one at a time. At the bottom of the hill – bam! The setting sun blasted through our windshields like a blow torch. It took all the driving skills we had to remain on the line that ensured success. Unfortunately, one driver lost it half way up. Sliding sideways in soft soil on the trail edge, his Jeep JKUR ended up at right angles to the hill. Thankfully, the driver managed to stop his vehicle as it balanced sideways on the hill.
Encountering a blinding sunset off-road is just as jarring as it is in the city. But off-road there are additional hazards: steep cliffs, large boulders, ditches, ruts, slopes, and blind curves, among others.
There are some simple steps. If you can’t see, stop. If other vehicles are behind you, warn them you are stopping. Get on the radio and let people know what’s happening. At this point their vision is impaired as well. This is one reason why it’s handy to have two-way radios in all vehicles.
Pull down the visor. Put on your sunglasses. Put your hat on (the right way with the brim in front). Turn on your windshield washer. But be careful. This action actually cuts visibility for a short period, especially with exceptionally dirty windows.
If these simple actions do not improve your visibility get out and;
- Scrub the windshield even more if it needs it.
- Walk the trail to determine the difficulty and risk factor as well as familiarizing yourself with it.
- If you have another person with you, have him get out and spot. Ideally, have your spotter stand so he blocks the sun from your eyes.
- Using hand signals from your spotter, inch your way along until you can see for yourself again. Eventually you will have moved such that the sun is no longer directly in your eyes.
As an alternative, if you can’t see your spotter well, give him a radio. The instructions may not be as precise, but at least you are getting directions from some who can see the trail.
Finally, in the worst case, wait for the sun to set. You still have the period of civil twilight (20-30 minutes) to get off-the trails. Or perhaps you get to experience the bonus night run! Incidentally, if you catch a bright sunrise one morning, the steps are similar. Oftentimes just waiting for the sun to rise higher does the trick.
Do some vehicle maintenance when you get home. Buy new windshield wipers if needed. If your windshield is all pitted from years of trail blasting, buy a new one.
The setting sun, which is beautiful out in the country, can be hazardous if it catches you at the wrong time. Learn how to react, and you’ll be back on your journey.
Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult terrain and adverse driving conditions. Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.
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