As a trucker, you get used to spending long nights on the road. But you never really get used to the glare and halos of headlights from oncoming traffic. Some drivers deal with this by installing red lights in their cabs, but night driving glasses are a convenient solution that many truckers rely on.
The Problem with Driving At Night
If you have trouble seeing while driving at night, you’re not alone. It’s a problem that affects about 32% of drivers.
And there are many factors that can affect your ability to see clearly in the dark.
For many drivers, dirty windshields are a serious problem. Even a thin layer of grime can scatter up to 90% of light and make it harder to see at night. That’s why it’s so important to keep your windshield clean – both the inside and the outside.
Eye strain is another problem, and your bright dashboard lights aren’t helping. Your eyes are constantly focusing between your bright dashboard and the dark conditions outside your truck. Eventually, your eyes get tired of adjusting between these two extremes, which can make it harder to see clearly. Dimming your dashboard lights can take some of the strain off of your eyes.
This problem with halos can be even worse for those drivers who have had lasik surgery.
Glares and halo problems can make it harder to see clearly and stay focused on the road. That’s where anti-reflective driving glasses come in.
Are Anti-Glare Glasses for Night Driving Legit?
Most drivers have heard of anti-reflective glasses, but many don’t trust them because they think they don’t work. But modern versions of these glasses actually do work, and many drivers swear by them for night driving when night halo and glares can impact your driving decisions.
Night driving glasses:
- Have anti-reflective lenses
- Have a yellow tint
- Are polarized
- Also affect your peripheral vision for better overall vision
It’s important to mention that not all drivers are the same. Yes, many truckers swear by night glasses, but many do not. Every person is different, so what works for one driver may not work for another. But here’s the good news: night driving glasses are cheap enough that you can take them for a test drive without breaking the bank.
Reduce the Brightness of Modern Headlights
One of the biggest issues with night driving is having to deal with bright headlights from oncoming traffic. Those inconsiderate drivers who keep their bright lights on don’t help the situation – but that’s a topic for a different day.
Glare reduction is one of the biggest benefits to wearing driving glasses, and polarized lenses can help. Polarization removes horizontal light waves and allows angled vertical light waves to pass through.
What to Look for When Buying Glasses For Night Driving
What features should you look for when buying night driving glasses?
#1 – Lens Tint
Virtually all nighttime glasses are tinted, but you’ll find a wide range of tint colors. Which one is best?
Amber and yellow are the most popular colors. These two colors amplify any available light in the environment and cut down on blue light. Some truckers prefer amber, while others prefer yellow. It ultimately comes down to your personal preference, but it’s important to note that yellow will cause slight color distortion.
#2 – Lens Material
Lens material may not seem important, but it can mean the difference between seeing clearly and making glare and halos worse. The materials used to create sunglass lenses do not work well for nighttime glasses.
Polycarbonate is the most popular material because it’s cheap and highly durable. You may see these lenses advertised as “shatterproof.” Along with being highly durable, these lenses are lightweight.
#3 – Polarization and Anti-Reflection
For night driving glasses to work, their lenses need to be polarized and anti-reflective. We talked about the importance of polarization earlier, but most nighttime sunglasses will also have anti-reflective coatings that further help with reducing glare and halos.
Some lenses are naturally polarized, and these tend to offer the most consistent effect. Although the effect won’t fade over time, this kind of polarization tends to be more expensive.
Most night driving glasses have a polarized film on the lens because this is the most cost-effective way to polarize a lens. Unfortunately, this type of polarization can fade over time, which makes the glasses less durable.
What are the Best Night Driving Glasses?
You’re ready to buy a pair of night driving glasses, but you’re not sure which pair to choose. We’re going to share two best-selling models that are popular with truckers that we have seen in use.
Soxick
Soxick’s glasses come equipped with anti-reflective, yellow, polarized lenses to keep glares to a minimum. With an aluminum-magnesium frame, these glasses are light (57% lighter than traditional glasses) and comfortable to wear.
To make your life easier, Soxick gives you all the measurements you need to decide if these glasses are right fit for you.
- Frame length: 140mm
- Lens width: 64mm
- Lens height: 37mm
- Bridge width: 12mm
- Arm length: 123mm
Soxick’s glasses come in two different styles, and they also provide UV protection. If you happen to be driving just as the sun is coming up, you can be sure that your eyes will be protected from the sun’s rays.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Comfortable to wear
- Reduces glare from headlights
- Provides UV protection
- Durable and lightweight frame
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- May not fit everyone
The fit may be a little off for some people, so be sure to double-check the measurements in the product description to make sure the glasses won’t be too big or too small for your face.
Lumin
Lumin’s driving glasses offer UVA and UVB protection while reducing glares and halos. With a durable frame and reinforced hinges, these glasses hold up well when used daily. They’re lightweight, too – an added bonus for truckers who spend hours driving at night.
The lenses are made of polycarbonate and feature a light yellow/amber tint. The polycarbonate material makes these glasses scratch-resistant and shatterproof.
Pros
- Amber/yellow tint reduces glares
- Lightweight
- Comfortable to wear
- Durable
Cons
- Does not fit over prescription glasses
Lumin’s glasses are not designed to fit over prescription glasses, which may be a deal-breaker for some truckers.