RESEARCH: Self-driving cars can reduce dangers of sun glare on highways

A study led by Concordia researchers looks at how bright sunlight — known as sun glare — affects highway safety, and how self-driving cars might help reduce the risks.

Sun glare happens when the sun is low in the sky, such as during sunrise or sunset. It can shine directly into drivers’ eyes, making it hard to see the road ahead, spot brake lights or stay in the correct lane. These conditions often lead to slower reaction times, traffic slowdowns and more rear-end collisions.

Under the direction of Ciprian Alecsandru, an associate professor in the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, researchers used computer models to recreate traffic conditions on a Montreal-area highway during times when sun glare is common. They studied how traffic would behave with a mix of regular cars and different types of self-driving vehicles.

The study found that self-driving cars — especially more advanced ones — handled sun glare conditions better than human drivers. These vehicles kept safer distances, adjusted speeds more smoothly and made fewer sudden stops. This approach helped reduce the number of risky situations in traffic.

The research also showed that even a small number of self-driving cars mixed into regular traffic can improve overall highway flow and reduce sudden braking during sun glare conditions.

The researchers conclude that increasing the use of self-driving cars on highways could help prevent accidents caused by sun glare. They also recommend that transportation planners consider how vehicle automation can be part of the solution to this underrecognized but common safety problem.

The research was published in Future Transportation. Co-authors are Hamed Esmaeeli and Arash Mazaheri from Concordia University and Tahoura Mohammadi Ghohaki from the Islamic Azad University in Tehran.

Read the cited paper: “Evaluating Autonomous Vehicle Safety Countermeasures in Freeways Under Sun Glare”