The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has put out safety tips for drivers who will be on the road on April 8 during the total solar eclipse.
“It will be almost like dawn or dusk, so people who are traveling early in the afternoon on April 8th can notice big differences.” “People are definitely being asked to plan around that,” said Ken Slack, who is in charge of marketing for the VDOT Staunton District.
Slack tells cars that they should turn on their headlights during the eclipse.
He also tells drivers to pay attention to their surroundings and be aware of any cars that might be pulled over on the side of the road.
“We really want people not to pull off on the shoulders. It’s against the law on most of our roads, even the interstates, so find a safe spot to watch the eclipse, Slack said.
Vehicles that are going and vehicles that are stopped on the shoulder have crashed into each other, according to VDOT.
“Sometimes those are terrible crashes because you got somebody who is inside the vehicle or around the vehicle and get struck by either their own car or the one that is still moving,” Slack said.
According to the government, if you are moving and want to stop to see the eclipse, you should do so in a safe place, like a rest area.
When you go to watch the eclipse on April 8, though, make sure you have a good pair of eclipse glasses.
The upcoming total eclipse is likely to be one of the most exciting events of the year. In the US alone, 32 million people live in the path of totality, which is the path along which the moon will fully cover the sun, and another 150 million live within 200 miles of it.
The path will be between 108 and 122 miles wide and go from Mexico to Texas, then through 12 U.S. states to Maine, and finally over Canada. In the Southern states, there will be up to 4½ minutes of totality.
