WOMEN who drive while wearing fashionable chunky sunglasses are a potential road safety hazard, campaigners warn.
Sunglasses with wide arms and ultra-dark or tinted lenses, popularised by the likes of Kylie Minogue, Paris Hilton and Victoria Beckham, significantly restrict vision, they said.
A survey has estimated that 140,000 women in Scotland - or one in eight - drive with wide-armed sunglasses, which can limit peripheral vision.
The Eyecare Trust charity, which took part in the research, also warned drivers against sunglasses with pink or blue lenses, which could distort vision.
It said motorists should choose neutral lens colours that provided true colour definition, such as grey or brown.
The charity also advised against the use of very dark lenses, which the survey said were used by one in ten of the women in Scotland who were polled.
Niki Bolton, a spokeswoman for insurer Sheilas' Wheels, which commissioned the survey of 766 women in the UK, said: "Too many women are unaware of the dangers of wearing some of this summer's hottest styles when driving.
"Wide arms and dark lens tints are the must-haves of the moment, but fashion-conscious women should put safety ahead of style when in control of a car.
"We'd like to encourage all women to keep a sensible, practical pair of sunglasses for driving at hand in their glove box, free of scratches and smears.
"Wearing unsuitable sunglasses is just as dangerous as wearing none when driving in bright conditions."
The poll showed that fewer than two in five women chose sunglasses specifically for driving, while nearly three in four said they did not wear sunglasses while driving in bright light.
Nearly one woman in four had driven while wearing sunglasses with dirty lenses, while one in five had driven with scratched lenses.
Rosie Gavzey, a trustee of the Eyecare Trust, advised drivers to look out for sunglasses carrying the CE or BS EN 1836:1997 marks to ensure they provided adequate ultraviolet (UV) protection.
She said: "This is especially important if you are driving a convertible, where your eyes are at greater risk of UV damage."
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents also warned women not to put their lives in danger in the name of fashion. Spokesman Roger Vincent said: "It is important that people select sunglasses that are not detrimental to their vision. They can be distracting and interfere with your vision so you may miss something important on the road ahead."
KEEP AN EYE ON THE LAWDRIVERS must be able to see clearly while wearing sunglasses, according to motoring laws.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said there was nothing to prevent a driver from wearing sunglasses as long as they did not hamper their field of vision.
The minimum vision standard is being able to read a number plate at 20 metres in good light, which is part of the driving test.
A spokeswoman for the DfT said: "Although not specified in legislation, being able to see laterally is important, and a driver may be liable to a charge of driving without due care and attention should there be an accident."
The Eyecare Trust charity said the Highway Code stated drivers should never wear sunglasses at night.
There are also restrictions on the tint on vehicle glass - the law states that front windows must allow 70 per cent of light through, while the figure is 75 per cent for the front windscreen.
Police have found vehicles with glass letting as little as 5 per cent of light through.
This article: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1253992007
Last updated: 10-Aug-07 01:2
