DEAR SUN SPOTS:  Regarding the Feb. 9 Sun Spots concerning LED lights on vehicles, I am having the same issues. If I’m traveling on a state road, I’m OK with it because there are white lines everywhere and that helps a great deal.

However, many town roads don’t have these lines down the center or on the sides to follow. I have gone off the road and it’s very scary.

Many people in our town no longer drive at night because of these lights. If our town could add white lines to the roads, it would be nice. — Ray, Greene

ANSWER: I hear you. I think the best thing you could possibly do for yourself and others is to contact your town’s public works director or road commissioner and politely and firmly voice your concerns if you feel that some roads in your area aren’t safe to travel.

Here are some other tips: Anything that reduces blurriness or glare will help with night driving vision so keep your eyeglass prescription up to date by getting regular checkups; ask your optometrist about getting an anti-reflective coating on your prescription eyeglasses. Smudges can amplify glare, so wipe your eyeglasses down with an eyeglass cloth before driving. Make sure your windshield is clean both inside and out, since dirt streaks and dust can amplify glare and replace your windshield wipers regularly. Keep dashboard lights dim to avoid eye strain while night driving and keep your headlights clean and free of grime.

There are nonprescription, night-driving eyeglasses you can purchase at Walmart and drug stores or on Amazon. These glasses have yellow or amber lenses. Some of these also have an anti-reflective coating. Night-driving glasses reduce glare by scattering and filtering out white-blue or blue light, the part of the light spectrum that has the shortest wave length and the largest amount of energy. Unlike types of light with longer wave lengths, blue light is more likely to cause glare when it enters the eye.

If you choose to try out these glasses, please do so with caution. My brother does a lot of night-driving and says that they help him, but I’ve heard others say they don’t make a difference. It has also been reported that wearing these eyeglasses can cut down on your night vision a bit, making it more difficult to see pedestrians in a crosswalk or on the side of the road as well as animals, such as deer. Really weigh the situation you will be in before trying them out.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding the Feb. 15 Sun Spots, I enjoy, and also have been quite successful selling items locally through Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for myself, friends and family. I would be happy to help readers with these types of projects as time allows. Please contact me at 949-2304 — Melanie, Hartford

ANSWER: I spoke with Melanie, who, like many of us, has had to adjust her career due to the pandemic. It’s awesome when folks pair their people skills and technical knowledge to create a means to keep themselves busy, earn some income, and help others. I hope these two can connect and accomplish the goals our reader has in mind.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name. We won’t use it if you ask us not to. Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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