Can you drive during the solar eclipse? The RAC warned that some motorists may need to switch on their headlights during Wednesday evening’s eclipse, as more than 90% of the sun was due to be obscured between 6.17pm and 8.06pm. The advice was aimed at drivers on UK roads whose vehicles do not have automatic headlights or daylight running lights.
Simon Williams on dipped beams
Simon Williams, the RAC head of policy, said: “While total darkness is unlikely, those with vehicles that don’t have automatic headlights or daylight running lights may need to switch on their dipped beams to ensure they are easily visible to other road users.” He also said: “The best advice to enjoy this rare event is to pull over somewhere safe and watch with specialist glasses.”
That warning adds a practical twist for drivers who may assume the evening light will stay usable throughout the eclipse. The RAC was not advising people to stop driving across the board; it was warning that visibility could change enough for dipped beams to become necessary on some roads and for some vehicles.
UK roads and visibility
Williams urged anyone driving in a westerly direction around the time of the eclipse to avoid being distracted. He said: “Taking your eyes off the road even for a split second to try to catch a glimpse of the sun as it disappears behind the moon increases the risk of being involved in a collision, not to mention the potential for suffering long-term damage to your vision.”
The eclipse window also overlaps with the period when road lighting can vary sharply by route, direction and weather. The RAC’s warning focused on cars without automatic lighting, where the driver has to decide whether dipped beams are needed rather than leaving the system to adjust on its own.
Royal College of Ophthalmologists
Eye safety was part of the same warning. Only special solar eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2 should be used to view the eclipse safely, and sunglasses are not enough. Mohamed Elalfy, consultant ophthalmologist and president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: “The safest way to enjoy the eclipse is to observe it indirectly, such as by watching a live broadcast.”
Elalfy also said: “Looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse can cause damage to the retina, potentially damaging the cells responsible for sharp central vision.” He added: “Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it happens.” The Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of vision problems after the 1999 total solar eclipse, and around 40% of those cases involved people who had looked at the eclipse for less than a minute.
For drivers, the immediate step is simple: keep attention on the road, use headlights if the light drops, and pull over safely if they want to watch the eclipse rather than trying to do both at once.
