Most of us slip on a pair of shades when we get behind the wheel on a sunny day. It just makes driving more enjoyable. But you want to choose a frame that you love and lets you enjoy the ride.
The best driving sunglasses are the ones you’ll wear consistently. Especially since sunglasses are important for more than just comfort and style. And the right driving lenses can help you see more clearly and avoid accidents on the road.
Read on to find the perfect lens tint to make the most of every road trip.
The Best Lens Colors for Driving
The best lens colors for driving are grey, black, bronze, amber, violet, and yellow. Each of these colors has its own benefits. But the right lens color will come down to your typical driving conditions and personal preferences.
Make no mistake; sunglass lenses are about more than fashion. Each of the following lens colors offers something different as we view the world through our windshields.
Grey / Black
Grey and black lenses provide the darkest tint for driving and are great for sunny conditions. These neutral colors absorb the greatest amount of light, reducing the eye strain that comes from driving in bright light.
Nobody wants to squint while they drive. It’s uncomfortable and can affect your safety on the road.
We recommend looking for a visual light transmission (VLT) between 8% and 18%. VLTs below 8% are likely too dark (in some places, they’re actually illegal), and higher than 18% may let in too much sunlight on a bright day.
Grey and black lenses also maintain natural color perception, an important consideration for seeing traffic lights. Green lenses, blue lenses, red/pink, and other colorful lenses can cause color distortion, so are best avoided for driving.
Bronze / Amber
Bronze and amber lenses offer a warmer tint than black and grey and are great for cloudy and sunny conditions. They also provide contrast enhancement for reds and yellows, important colors for road safety. Coppers provide similar benefits if you prefer darker colors.
These warmer tints, like their cool grey cousins, preserve proper color vision for traffic light safety. And, you won’t lose your sunny day protection with a warmer color tint.
Similar to black or grey lenses, we’d recommend 8-18% VLT for brown and amber driving lenses.
Violet / Yellow
Don’t ditch your sunglasses on cloudy days, in rainy weather, in the fog, or in other low-light conditions. Instead, choose a lens color that allows in more light, with a higher VLT percentage than your grey or bronze lenses. These lenses will still protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and glare without being too dark.
Yellow lenses are our choices for low-light driving. Yellow lenses will block blue light and help to increase contrast. This is the same reason you see cyclists wearing yellow lenses.
Yellow lenses also cut glare as they enhance contrast. While we tend to consider glare to be a sunny day problem, visibility can be affected by those annoying horizontal rays in all daylight conditions.
Night driving glasses are important, too. Headlights, especially in rainy conditions, can create a particularly harsh glare. In these environments, we’d recommend clear lenses with a good anti-glare reflective coating.
Are Polarized Lenses Good for Driving?
The main advantage of polarized lenses is that they reduce glare. Since glare is particularly problematic in some driving conditions, polarization is a natural choice.
But you don’t absolutely need polarized lenses to drive comfortably and safely. Some people find that polarization affects their depth perception. It can also interfere with LCD screen viewing.
If you don’t want polarized lenses, choose a color tint with glare-reducing properties. Lens technologies like Oakley’s Prizm lens also help cut glare without polarization.
Learn more about polarization in our complete Polarized Lenses Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need Special Glasses For Driving?
No, your regular glasses or sunglasses can work just fine. Just choose a tint that works well in your usual driving conditions.
Keep in mind that all sunglasses, for driving or everyday use, should have some basic features. Consider these important benefits whenever you’re shopping for shades.
Lenses should filter UVA and UVB rays to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Impact-resistant lenses are also important since they protect your eyes from projectiles and injury from shattered lenses.
If you’re concerned with durability, we’d recommend scratch-resistant coatings. These coatings will help your sunglasses look great for years.
For comfort, check out lightweight polycarbonate lens materials. Not only are these lenses light, they also offer additional impact protection and shatter resistance.
Are Photochromic Lenses Good for Driving?
If you wear prescription sunglasses, steer clear of traditional photochromic lenses. The UV protection of car windows can stop them from adjusting appropriately when you drive. This means your lenses can be too dark or light while driving. Instead, choose a lens specifically designed to work inside a car.
Many sunglass frames are available with prescription lenses. Choose one that isn’t too bulky, so it doesn’t block your peripheral vision.
These features are just as beneficial for tennis, watersports, fishing, and walking down the street as they are for driving.
Do Blue light Glasses Help With Driving?
Yes, blue light glasses can be beneficial for night driving since they help reduce eye fatigue. While better known for reducing eye fatigue from computers and other screens, blue light lenses can also reduce glare while driving.
The combination of glare reduction and reduced eye strain can make night driving safer and more comfortable.
Want More?
Are you interested in finding the perfect lens color for every environment? Or have a question about driving lenses and glasses? Check out our other useful guides below and let us know in the comments:
- The Best Oakley Sunglasses for Driving
- The Best Lens Color for Fishing: Deep Sea, Fly Fishing & More
- The Best Lens Colors for Golf [For Every Environment]
- The Best Lens Colors for Baseball [For Day & Night Games]
