Warning: Don’t look at the eclipse while driving
CLEVELAND (WJW) — For most people, it will be impossible to avoid looking toward the sky during Monday’s total solar eclipse, but wearing protective glasses is not the only safety precaution to consider.
Authorities are warning drivers to not try and look at the spectacle while behind the wheel.
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“Whether it’s texting behind the wheel or typing an address into your GPS, distractions can have devastating consequences,” said Sgt. Bridget Matt, public information officer for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Thursday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Department of Transportation and AAA held a briefing in Cuyahoga County to remind drivers to avoid the usual dangerous distractions. But this year, they addressed one distraction they probably never dealt with before, and will probably never deal with again, a total solar eclipse over Northeast Ohio.
“It’s truly going to be a spectacle. But if you’re going to enjoy it, you need to do so safely, and that does not mean pulling over to the side of the road,” AAA East Central Spokesman Jim Garrity said.
“That is illegal to park on the side of the highway, we want to make sure that those lanes stay free from vehicles, in the event that there’s an actual emergency and our troopers and other emergency responders need to get to the location quickly,” Sgt. Matt said.
AAA expects large volumes of traffic on roads in the path of totality.
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“If you’re driving, you need to make sure you avoid the temptation to peek out the window. Don’t forget when the eclipse hits, it’s going to be so dark that you need to make sure that your lights are ready to go,” Garrity said.
ODOT said that so far this year, 43 of their workers, equipment and vehicles have been struck by distracted drivers, compared to 56 for all of last year. On Monday, they are trying to lower the chance of adding to those numbers.
“We are pulling back the majority of our work zones. Those that are in a permanent configuration, unfortunately, we’re not able to do that,” said Amanda McFarland, PIO of ODOT District 12.
Also, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is treating the eclipse like a holiday period.
“That means that troopers are restricted from taking leave during that time, so on Sunday and Monday we will be in full force. We will have all hands on deck,” Sgt. Matt said.
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All three agencies said they consulted with colleagues in states that have already experienced a solar eclipse. They learned traffic leaving the area was their biggest problem.
“Additionally, we heard that a lot of people were running out of gas because they were stuck in those backups,” McFarland said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said they will have extra troopers to help any disabled drivers.
Although it probably goes without saying, authorities warn drivers not to wear eclipse glasses behind the wheel.
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