Visibility is a big factor in staying safe out on the roads for a very simple reason: What you see, you can react to, or at least try to, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) which is warning about sun glare.

The safety organisation has said it’s “so important to drive to the conditions”.

In heavy rain or fog, visibility can be reduced to a few metres.

Similarly there have been reports of cyclists or pedestrians in a collision with vehicles because the driver was blinded by the low sun.

The RSA says in these situations “it is imperative to slow down, turn on the headlights and take extra caution on the roads”.

The road safety office of Mayo County Council has put together a key list of tips for driving in the sun. During autumn and winter, the sun is more likely to be in your field of vision for longer in the course of any given day.

That means that drivers of cars, tractors, vans or lorries are more at risk of suffering sun-blindness, when the sun’s glare is so overwhelming that it makes it hard to see anything else.

Road safety officer in the communications department of Mayo County Council Noel Gibbons said:

“Keep your windscreen clean, both inside and out. On de-mist, your heater blows traffic fumes, suspended oil and smoke onto the inside of the screen and wet roads add dirt and scratches to the outside.

“Drivers should take extra care early in the morning, especially in deep mid-winter when the sun is at its lowest.

“Mature drivers should consider their options regarding eyewear, ensure their eyes are checked regularly and appropriate tinted glasses are available,” added Gibbons.

“Joggers, dog walkers, workers returning home on foot and other pedestrians walking with their backs to vehicles are almost twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in road accidents. Always walk facing oncoming traffic,” he concluded.

Five people have been killed on the country’s roads in the past seven days.