Safety at the wheel: new products for car drivers
Recent statistics show that in the world about 1 billion drivers are put to the test every day by disturbances that can jeopardize safety at the wheel, we just have to think of cell phones, radios, CDs, sat navs etc. Added to these are the structural hazards of the road, changes in weather conditions and psychophysical conditions. When driving it takes us about ¼ second to react to a visual stimulus, which means, travelling at 100KM/hour, about 7 meters!
To drive safely we clearly need all the visual help possible, such as the help offered by 'Drivewear activated by Transitions™', the first polarizing photochromatic lens, which darkens through the car windscreen, resolving one of the most serious problems for those at the wheel, blinding glare, which causes scarce visibility of obstacles and road signs.
In just one product, this lens is able to combine the two advanced technologies, which are currently available in the optical sector, photochromy, which allows the lenses to darken automatically when they are exposed to sunlight, and polarization, which protects from blinding glare.
We must remember that the human eye is an amazing mechanism, designed to receive visual information. This is why the new lenses have been designed to strengthen the eye's natural abilities in different conditions of light, both outdoors in direct light, and behind a car windscreen.
The definition 'activated by Transitions' tells consumers that these special lenses make an innovative use of the principle of photochromism, in other words the lenses change colour according to the amount of light.
A system of pigments has been developed for this specific use, which react both to visible light and ultra-violet light, allowing the lens to change colour not only in direct sun rays, but also in special conditions, such as behind a car windscreen.
When there is scarce light (for example when the sky is overcast) the lenses are a green-yellow colour. This colour favours the definition of contrasts, it minimizes glare and maximizes the 'useful light information' that reaches the eye.
Whereas, in conditions of intense sunlight, which penetrates the windscreen, the lenses turn copper; this colour, which many drivers consider to be the most comfortable for driving, reduces glare and excess light, allowing red and green road signs to be distinguished perfectly. Finally, when there is sunlight outside the vehicle, the lenses darken and turn a warm shade of dark brown, which is studied to filter excess light and prevent the eye from becoming saturated, guaranteeing perfect visual wellbeing.
We must remember that brown allows colours to be distinguished perfectly, in particular green. Considering that green is the most common colour of the natural landscape, when it is highlighted, it offers a unique visual experience.
Like all Transitions photochromatics, the car driver lenses 'Drivewear activated by Transitions™' also block out 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays, guaranteeing not only protection, but also maximum comfort.
'Drivewear activated by Transitions™ represents one of the most advanced areas of modern technology' declared Alessandro Borzino, Business Director Mediterranean of Transitions Optical Europe; 'the benefits for car drivers can be seen immediately because the lenses adapt automatically to the changes in light inside the vehicle, without the driver ever having to take his hands off the wheel. The copper colour behind the windscreen reduces reflections and blinding glare and allows red and green road signals to be brought into focus perfectly. This is a great advantage for the safety of all drivers, of course not counting the 100% protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays'.
