Wednesday 30 September is changing character as the day goes on. The Met Office forecast for London and south-east England says the cloudy, breezy and sometimes wet start is clearing to give a brighter, sunnier afternoon for many places. In Esher, the local forecast shows sunny intervals after morning showers and sunset at 18:41. That combination can leave the evening drive with two different visibility problems: low autumn sun reflecting from a still-damp road, followed by a quick move into dusk.
Prepare before the sun reaches eye level
Clean the windscreen inside as well as outside. A thin film on the glass can scatter low light and turn a manageable view into a bright haze. Check washer fluid, wipers and demisters before setting off, and clean mirrors, lights and the number plate. Put navigation and ventilation settings in place while parked so you are not reaching for controls when the sun is directly ahead.
The Highway Code is clear: slow down, and stop if necessary, when dazzled by bright sunlight. Do not try to maintain your normal pace through a view you cannot trust. Reduce speed smoothly, increase the following gap and be ready for traffic ahead to brake as other drivers meet the same glare.
Read the long shadows
Low sun can make pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders harder to separate from the background, especially near junctions, crossings and tree-lined roads. Long shadows may hide a kerb, a queue or a person stepping from between parked vehicles. Scan deliberately, check mirrors before slowing and avoid overtaking when the road ahead is washed out by glare.
Damp patches can stay bright even after the rain has stopped. Reflections from wet tarmac, road markings and windscreens can be strongest just as the weather appears to be improving. Keep a speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see clearly. If a shaded bend is still wet, allow extra room and make steering and braking inputs smoothly.
Move from daylight to dusk without delay
Sunset at 18:41 does not mean visibility changes at one precise minute. Light can fall quickly behind buildings, trees and cloud, while another road user may already be difficult to see. Use dipped headlights in dull daytime conditions and at night so you can be seen without dazzling others. Make sure automatic lighting has actually selected the appropriate setting; daytime running lights may not provide the rear illumination you expect.
Do not use tinted glasses, lenses or visors at night or in poor visibility if they restrict your view. Once the low sun has gone, reassess what you are wearing and the condition of the glass. Fog lights are only for seriously reduced visibility and must be switched off when conditions improve.
Keep a calm roadside plan in the boot
An evening delay is easier to manage when the essentials are together before departure. Keep a charged phone, breakdown-cover details, a torch and a high-visibility vest where they can be reached without unloading the whole boot. Secure loose items so they do not move during braking. If you need to stop, choose a safe place whenever possible and follow the official instructions for that road. On a motorway, never place a warning triangle on the carriageway.
JUFO evening roadside-prep pick
JUFO 3-in-1 Roadside Breakdown Kit — £17.95
A compact way to keep practical emergency items together for an unexpected stop as daylight fades. Store it securely in the boot, read the supplied instructions before travel and include it in your regular vehicle checks.
Use a four-point check before leaving
Clean the windscreen, confirm the lights, secure the roadside kit and check the live route. Then leave enough time to slow down when glare, reflections or the transition into dusk reduce what you can see. A bright evening after morning rain is welcome, but the safest response is still practical: prepare early, create space and never drive faster than the available view allows.
Sources: Met Office London and South East England forecast; Met Office Esher forecast; The Highway Code: rules 89 to 102; The Highway Code: lighting requirements.
