All the Better To Be Seen...In a Peugeot This Summer

COVENTRY – June 24, 2008: A summer sunglasses style faux pas can stay with you for life, as can the damage caused by not wearing the correct eyewear in bright light. Ever dedicated to safety and style, with its 207 CC and 207 GTi THP 175 firmly in sight, Peugeot has asked leading optician Specsavers and the Eyecare Trust, to share their top tips for ensuring drivers’ summer eyewear is roadworthy!

Sunglasses are more than just a fashion item. They offer vital protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays and make driving in bright light easier by reducing glare from the road, especially for drivers of open-top cars like the best-selling 207 CC.

Sunglasses are available in hundreds of frame sizes, colours, lens types and tints and by following the Trust’s top tips you can be sure your eyewear is fit for the road…

Look out for the CE or BS EN 1836:2005 marks when choosing your sunglasses – this ensures they provide a safe level of protection from harmful UV light

Drivers should always select glasses with a tint level of between one and three - a lens that is too dark could potentially impair vision

NEVER wear sunglasses when driving at night or in poor visibility

Anti-reflective coatings help minimise glare

Avoid sunglasses with really heavy frames. Slim arms provide the greatest all-round vision. Drivers need a visual range of at least 120 degrees

Beware of pink or blue tinted lenses as these can potentially distort colours, making driving dangerous. Neutral tints such as grey or brown will minimise any potential colour distortion Sunglasses with graduated tint lenses are great for drivers and particularly fashionable this summer. They give protection from bright overhead light and leave a lighter area, perfect for map reading or viewing dashboard instruments

Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers, says; “Wearing the correct eye wear when driving in the summer months is essential. The most dangerous conditions are caused by glare resulting from intense sunlight – possibly reflected from the road surface, the bonnet or dashboard of your car. This is the most common and dangerous visual problem when driving, outside of simply uncorrected vision.

“The most effective way to counteract glare is to wear prescription sunglasses or tinted lenses, which will block much of this light. They will also enhance contrast, provide 100% UV protection from the sun, significantly reduce eye fatigue when driving and allow improved colour perception.”

Peugeot’s 207 range is an ideal example of a car you can enjoy in the sunshine, and match it to suit the style of your sunglasses. As the UK’s best-selling CC (Coup� Cabriolet), the 207 is available with a range of petrol or diesel engines, in Sport or GT trim. It’s the ultimate accessory for summer 2008.