It's a glorious Monday morning here in Glasgow and the sun is splitting the trees - sunglasses are definitely needed.
With the weather set to warm up over the next few days, the city is in for plenty of sunshine - but before you head out for the day, you might want to make sure you have the right kind of sunnies for driving.
According to our friends at Plymouth Live, wearing the wrong kind could land you a fine and points on your licence.
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And perhaps even worse; not wearing sunglasses while driving when the weather is bright and sunny could also cost you.
Rule 237 of the Highway Code states that drivers have to slow down or pull over if they’re dazzled by bright sunlight. If you don’t and you’re not wearing protective sunglasses then you could be convicted of careless driving.
The penalty starts at an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three points on your licence - or you could face going to court and up to £2,500 in fines and nine points.
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As for the right and wrong kinds of sunnies, it comes down to how much light they filter out.
Most sunglasses will be category two - meaning they filter between 18 and 43 per cent of light and are suitable for driving.
But if you have category four sunglasses - which let less than eight per cent of light through - they are illegal when driving.
In the UK sunglasses must be labelled and show the filter category number and category four should be labelled 'not suitable for driving and road use'.
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Variable tint lens sunglasses are also not suitable for driving, as the tint on these glasses becomes darker when exposed to sunlight - modern car windscreen glass filters out UV rays and means they won't work.
According to the AA: "Filter category four lenses only transmit between three per cent and eight per cent of light and are not suitable for driving at any time.”
Granted, the sun doesn’t shine on Glasgow this brightly too often - and especially not in February. But whether it’s winter sun or the prospect of summer coming up, you might want to look out suitable sunglasses and leave a pair in the car.
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