The Met Office forecast for London on Thursday 15 October shows a cool autumn day reaching about 21°C, with overcast conditions changing to sunny intervals and a partly cloudy evening. Sunset is listed at 18:07. For a driver leaving work or returning from an afternoon journey, that means the road can move from bright glare to lower contrast in a short distance.
This is a practical visibility check rather than a reason to overreact to an ordinary forecast. The best preparation happens while the car is parked: clean the surfaces that carry your view, confirm the lights you actually need and leave enough space to respond when the background becomes darker.
Clean the windscreen before the return journey
Low autumn sun reveals smears that are easy to miss under cloud. Clean the windscreen inside and out, wipe the mirrors and check that the wipers clear the glass without streaking. Top up suitable screenwash and remove leaves or dirt from lamps, reflectors, cameras and number plates. A clear windscreen is especially important when a bright sky sits behind trees or buildings.
The Highway Code vehicle-maintenance guidance says windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision. It also expects lights, demisters, wipers and washers to be kept in working order. Do the check before moving, not while trying to manage glare at a junction.
Manage glare without losing road detail
Use the sun visor and suitable prescription sunglasses in daylight if needed, but remember that the light may fall quickly as the route turns east or enters a shaded street. Look well ahead for lane markings, traffic signals, cyclists and pedestrians. Do not use the vehicle ahead as a guide through glare and do not accelerate to clear a bright patch.
Rule 93 of the Highway Code says to slow down and, if necessary, stop when dazzled by bright sunlight. Choose a genuinely safe stopping place away from moving traffic. If the view is incomplete, reducing speed is the direct safety action; waiting for a better view is preferable to guessing.
Switch from daylight to the correct lights
Do not rely entirely on automatic lights. A bright western sky can delay a sensor even when shaded roads, side streets and other road users are already harder to see. Check the actual setting before departure and again as sunset approaches. Use dipped headlights when they help you see and be seen, and avoid main beam where it could dazzle another road user.
Rule 113 says sidelights and rear registration-plate lights must be lit between sunset and sunrise, with headlights used at night except on qualifying lit roads. Fog lights are for seriously reduced visibility, not a routine response to a darker sky. Keep the dashboard setting simple so your attention stays on the road.
Leave a margin for changing contrast
Drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see to be clear, not simply at the posted limit. Increase the gap before the car ahead when glare, tree cover or fading light reduces contrast. Check mirrors before slowing and brake progressively so following traffic receives a clear signal.
At crossings and junctions, scan twice for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists whose outline can disappear against a bright sky or dark background. Avoid a rushed overtake if the full road picture is not available. A few extra minutes of patience protects more time than a manoeuvre made with incomplete information.
JUFO homeward-journey readiness pick
JUFO 2-in-1 Car Window Breaker and Seatbelt Cutter - £8.95
For one vehicle, this compact tool combines a window breaker and seatbelt cutter. Secure it within reach of a belted occupant, such as in a suitable door pocket or fixed holder, and never leave it loose near the pedals. Read the instructions before you need them; it complements, but does not replace, careful driving and vehicle maintenance.
Run a 30-second dusk check
Before setting off, ask four questions: is every window clear, are the correct lights on, can the vehicle stop within the visible distance, and is emergency equipment secured and reachable? Recheck your lights and following distance as the sky changes. If glare or darkness prevents a safe view, slow down and use a suitable stopping place rather than pressing on.
Sources: Met Office: London forecast and sunset time; The Highway Code: bright sunlight; The Highway Code: lighting and stopping distance; The Highway Code: vehicle maintenance.
