Explore how the sun can make driving dangerous, especially on a construction worksite.

Tucker Paving has provided paving, earthworks, hauling, site clearing, and many other services in Central Florida for 30 years. As Florida is known as The Sunshine State, that means we’ve dealt with our fair share of the sun—and then some! The sun presents some unique challenges, especially for drivers. See how the sun makes operating a vehicle dangerous both on the road and a worksite, how to avoid accidents, and a reminder about blind spots.

The Dangers of the Sun and Driving

The strong Florida sun presents many dangers for workers when it’s high in the sky, but it can also be a problem when it’s low on the horizon. Morning and late afternoon sunshine greatly increases the potential for an accident, especially for those operating a vehicle.

Just like the sun can create a blinding glare while you’re driving on the road, a sun that is low on the horizon can make it difficult to see on a jobsite, increasing the chances for an accident. Trying to work with sun glare makes any job more dangerous, whether you’re working inside or outside of equipment or a vehicle.

Since construction equipment and vehicles are generally heavy, hauling or towing materials, and operating around employees, it’s very unsafe to not be able to see clearly!

These are tips we’ve learned in our three decades of working in the construction industry:

  1. Avoid moving equipment around during the early morning and late afternoon. Plan vehicle and equipment movements when the sky is overhead.
  2. Plan the angle of the movement of vehicles and equipment to run north and south, rather than east and west, to avoid the glare of the sun.
  3. When possible, work with something between yourself and the sun, such as a pile of dirt or structure.
  4. Use a spotter any time that sun glare cannot be avoided to walk a truck or equipment back.
  5. Workers, spotters, and site managers should all be trained to identify problems with the sun, to keep a lookout for the conditions, and to take appropriate measures to counteract these conditions.

Using spotters is also a great way to avoid hitting something in a vehicle’s blind spot. For many vehicles, like 18-wheelers, the blind spot is quite large. Using a spotter to back in, deliver a load, or navigate around workers and equipment is the safest option.

Safety is always our first priority at Tucker Paving. We’ve been in the asphalt and concrete paving industry for three decades, and we’ve never regretted safety measures that let everyone go home safe and sound. We can help you with your next project! Call us at (863) 299-2262, or fill out our contact form online.