Is Wearing Sunglasses While Driving a Traffic Violation?
2 Answers
Wearing sunglasses while driving is not considered a traffic violation. However, to prevent drivers from wearing sunglasses merely for style, traffic police may instruct them to remove the sunglasses during checks and provide a warning. Persistent offenders may face fines. Below are relevant details: Regulations: According to national standards, sunglasses used while driving must have a visible light transmittance of no less than 8%, and must maintain the original color of traffic signals when viewed through them. Specifically, red light transmittance should be ≥8%, and yellow and green light transmittance should be ≥6%. Impact of Non-Compliant Sunglasses: Non-compliant sunglasses reduce the amount of light reaching the eyes, making objects appear darker. This not only fails to meet the vision requirements set by the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses" but also increases reaction time to road conditions, thereby compromising safety.
As an experienced veteran driver with decades of driving experience, I often wear sunglasses on long highway trips. They effectively block glaring sunlight and improve visibility, which doesn't count as a traffic violation. Traffic regulations don't explicitly prohibit wearing sunglasses, but it's important to choose the right timing: highly recommended during bright midday sunlight, but they must be removed at dusk, in tunnels, or on cloudy days, otherwise road details become hard to see, increasing accident risks. I once had a colleague who wore dark sunglasses while driving in the rain and nearly hit a guardrail - the safety risk was too great. My suggestion is to keep a pair of polarized sunglasses to reduce glare interference while developing good driving habits - adjusting your sunglasses when light conditions change. This approach is both compliant and safe, avoiding unnecessary trouble. Always remind novice drivers not to get confused - sunglasses are an aid, not a prohibited item.
