Tips for Driving Safely During the Solar Eclipse
Photo: NASA
The long-awaited solar eclipse is here; it’s a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience for us all, but safety comes first. You’ve likely seen and heard people talking about the importance of solar eclipse glasses, but what about driving safety during the eclipse? It’s not recommended to travel during the solar eclipse, but if you really need to be behind the wheel, here are a few tips to help keep you safe.
Keep your headlights on
It’s not enough to trust your automatic headlights during the eclipse. The sun will appear and disappear quickly, so make sure you turn on your headlights before the eclipse begins. Once the sun goes behind the moon, it will appear to be nighttime, so you should prepare accordingly.
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Stay focused
While it may be tempting to glance up at the eclipse to check it out, don’t. Not only are you going to damage your eyes, but removing your attention from the road is a very serious risk. It’s likely many other drivers are distracted, too, so you don’t want to add to that. And do not wear solar eclipse glasses while driving. They will make your vision extremely dark, obstructing your view of the road.
Avoid pulling over
If you have a pair of viewing glasses and really want to check out the eclipse, take an exit and find a safe place to park. Pulling over on the side of the highway is risky during the day; during the eclipse, when it’s dark and many drivers are distracted, you’re creating a much higher risk of being struck by another vehicle.
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It’s best to avoid driving as much as possible during the eclipse. But if you have no other choice, make sure your car is prepared for the darkness and you’re focused on the road in front of you. Your safety during the eclipse is the most important thing.
Sources: The Washington Post, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Heavy
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