Indiana Sheriff's Office Offers Safety Tips for Eclipse Viewers

As we all prepare for the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, our local law enforcement agencies and first responders are working behind the scenes to prepare. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office has some tips for eclipse viewers.

Vanderburgh County Will Be Plunged Into Total Darkness

During the total solar eclipse, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, and the surrounding Indiana region will be plunged into just over three minutes of darkness. This is a literal once-in-a-lifetime event for many of us, but we need to be certain that we are staying safe while viewing the eclipse.

The Eclipse Will Bring a Lot of Traffic to Vanderburgh County

In a post to Facebook, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office has echoed a sentiment shared last week by the Indiana Department of Transportation, along with the Indiana State Police and Indiana Department of Homeland Security - there is a lot of traffic expected with this event. It is also strongly recommended that you plan ahead.

Please plan ahead to keep yourself and others safe. It's important to keep in mind that roads will likely be busy, and there may be standstill traffic, especially with an estimated 80,000 visitors expected to view the Total Solar Eclipse. It's a good idea to plan to arrive at your viewing location early, and in some cases, you may want to stay put to give traffic time to disperse. By planning ahead and being flexible, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for yourself and others.

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More Than 80,000 People Expected to Visit Our Area

With more than 80,000 people expected to visit our portion of Indiana for the eclipse, being prepared (and being patient) are going to be a tremendous help to ensure your eclipse viewing experience is a good one.

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Additional Safety Tips from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office

The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office went on to add a number of additional safety tips that will help ensure a safe, and pleasant viewing experience for the total solar eclipse. VCSO recommends:

Don't stop on the roadway or the side of the road to view the eclipse. You should pull off the roadway safely, and stop your vehicle before attempting to view the eclipse.
Put down your phone. You should not be taking photos of the eclipse while you're driving.
Use your headlights. This may seem self-explanatory but VSCO says you should not rely on your automatic headlights during this event.
Use safety-approved eclipse viewing glasses when looking at the eclipse.
You should not, however, wear your eclipse viewing glasses while behind the wheel of your vehicle.
Keep an eye on your kids. Make sure they keep their viewing glasses on to protect their vision and make sure you have a hold of them while you're viewing the eclipse. As VCSO points out, kids are fast and prone to wander.

Much like state officials have already pointed out, be prepared and plan ahead to keep yourself and others safe.

[Source: Vanderburgh County Sheriff via Facebook]