DOT: Eclipse glasses for watching eclipses, not driving
Eclipse glasses protect from blindness if you watch the moon block the sun on Monday, April 8, but they won’t save you from car accidents if you wear them while driving.
That was the message Friday from the state Department of Transportation.
“Eclipse Reminder: Don’t wear ‘eclipse glasses’ while driving,” DOT warned. “These glasses block almost all visible light which will make driving nearly impossible. So, if you’re driving during the eclipse, let’s keep our eclipse glasses off and our focus on the road.”
Drivers wearing eclipse glasses when they climb behind the wheel would instantly notice nothing is visible through the lenses when the glasses are not aimed at the sky.
It is the latest warning about the eclipse.
Last week, State Police said many visitors will head to the Adirondack Mountains for the eclipse. The path of totality, when the sun is completely blocked by the moon, will cover a swath of the central and northern parts of the range. Traffic in the otherwise lightly traveled mountain communities is expected to be heavy and the troopers say it could take hours to get home after the eclipse ends.
On April 8, New York observers from Jamestown to Plattsburgh will see a total eclipse of the sun. For Empire State viewers, it will be the first time the state has been inside the path of totality in nearly 100 years. During a total eclipse, the moon will completely cover the face of the sun, momentarily turning day into dusk.
By 3 p.m., New York residents within the 115mile wide band will see the moon move in front of the sun. People farther from the center of the path will experience the full effects for a shorter amount of time.