Sudden Light Changes, Dust, and More Vegetation and Insects: The 'Perfect Storm' When Travelling by Road

During the Easter holidays, Spain experiences the highest concentration of road travel throughout the year. In 2024, there were 15,458,430 long-distance journeys, surpassing the combined total of the summer holiday departures (from July 30 to midnight on August 1) and returns (from August 30 to midnight on September 1), which amounted to 9.76 million trips.

In addition to the large number of road users, there are several environmental factors that particularly hinder driving and visibility in mid-April, during the Easter holidays. On one hand, the changing weather, with rain and significant temperature fluctuations. The sun begins to shine more intensely, with sunrises and sunsets that make visibility more challenging. It's a time when life awakens from its winter slumber. Not only is there increased movement of animals and insects, but also the growth of plants that encroach on the road. Lastly, pollen and dust in the air also increase.

All of this particularly affects visibility. 90% of the information we receive while driving comes through our sight, and Carglass Spain has compiled all the factors that make driving difficult to raise awareness of the special road conditions during Easter and the importance of having the windshield and wipers in good condition before setting off on a journey.

1. Visibility in the Rain: The risk of having an accident when it rains is 70% higher, and reduced visibility is the main culprit for this increase in accidents, even more so than the reduced grip of tires on wet asphalt. This reduced visibility is mainly due to visual disturbance on the windshield. Even with the wipers in operation, water on the windshield distorts light, as the lack of uniformity of the water layer on the glass reduces the driver's visual performance. This effect is multiplied if the windshield is damaged (impacts, cracks, scratches...) and if the wiper blades are in poor condition and leave water channels with each sweep.

2. ADAS Systems in the Rain: A study has shown that the operation of ADAS systems is negatively affected by rain and, to a lesser extent, by dirt on the windshield. Carglass recommends cleaning the areas around the cameras and radar sensors at each stop and alerts drivers to be aware of the limitations of ADAS systems in adverse conditions.

3. Sudden Changes in Brightness: During Easter, we can experience all four seasons in a single day, with overcast skies, intense sun, and even hailstorms. Having good sunglasses in the car and knowing how to use sun visors will help us have better vision and more relaxed eyes. Never use the washer fluid and wipers with the sun in your face, as you will lose a lot of visibility for an extended period. This effect is exacerbated, in severity and duration, with worn wiper blades.

4. Dust and Pollen in the Air: Water reaching the windshield may be laden with dust and pollen, creating a fine mud layer on the windshield, which worn wipers spread, creating streaks. It's important to choose wisely when to use the wipers to clean it. Pollen also affects the vision of allergic individuals and can cause sneezing: doing so for five seconds at 90 kilometers per hour means losing attention to the road for over 125 meters. The car's pollen filter should be checked, and attention should be paid to allergy medication, as it can cause drowsiness.

5. Vegetation Growth: Plants begin to grow and can obstruct visibility through areas (inside curves, medians, intersections, roundabouts...) where, in winter and without leaves, there was perfect visibility. We must be alert to these changes in daily routes, where a car, motorcycle, cyclist, or pedestrian can appear "out of nowhere" because they were hidden behind vegetation. On the other hand, sticky fruits and resins from some trees can fall on the windshield when the car is parked, and they are difficult to clean.

6. More Animals, Birds, and Insects: Spring is one of the seasons with the highest number of traffic accidents related to animals, along with autumn. During this time, many animals increase their activity, especially at dawn and dusk, coinciding with hours of reduced visibility. Wild boars, deer, dogs, and rabbits are the animals most likely to cross the road. The number of birds also increases during this time. If a bird hits the windshield, remain calm and do not move the steering wheel, as the glass will withstand the impact, and it will only be a scare. Another side effect of birds occurs when we park under a tree: their droppings are difficult to clean (even with wipers and fluid) and obstruct vision. Not to mention the increase in the number of insects that end up splattered on the windshield. Wipers should be used regularly to avoid compromising visibility and to prevent insect remains from drying out and damaging the blades.