Things will get interesting on the road next Monday when the eclipse travels across the US. Even if you’re not in the path of totality, a big swath of the US will see some percentage of eclipse and will create some dangerous road conditions that you need to be prepared for. Here’s our top 5 tips!
1. Set an alarm for 5 minutes before the eclipse starts.
There are 3 phases in the path of totality that last up to 90 minutes. As soon as the eclipse starts, people will do stupid things on the roadways. Set an alarm to go off right before the eclipse starts in your path of travel.
The map below shows the TIME OF TOTALITY, not the time of when the eclipse first starts. The eclipse will begin 45 minutes before totality, so have that timer set to 50 minutes before the time indicated in your region below. For example, driving through Dallas? Set that timer for 12:55pm.
2. Don’t drive if you don’t have to.
But let’s face it, that’s not really an option. If you can at least make a stop, plan it at LEAST an hour before the eclipse starts and enjoy with proper eye wear. If you can’t make a stop… continue on with our tips below.
3. Slow down, coffee up, lights on.
There’s over a 30% increase in accidents during an eclipse. Reduce your speed and keep a sharp eye out for the inevitable moron who tries to drive their Toyota Prius 90 mph while live streaming the eclipse. Turning on your headlights as soon as C1 starts is also a good idea.
4. Gas up the night before or morning of.
Top off and fill up that reserve too, if you have one. The last thing you want to happen is running out of gas and missing your next day’s load as well (not to mention the possibility of a ticket).
5. Pack extra food and water.
The likelihood of a post eclipse traffic jam + major accident is almost 100%. You could be delayed much longer than you think and will be glad you packed extra snacks and liquids.
Wrapping up
The eclipse is going to be awesome in the true meaning of the word. Unfortunately, it also means people are going to do awesomely dumb things on the highways. Be careful out there and expect the unexpected! Also, in case you want to learn more about the eclipse and why it’s worth it to stop and watch, check out the video below.