BEAUMONT, Texas — With just six days away from the great American eclipse, the Texas Department of Transportation is sending out a warning to drivers.
While Southeast Texas won't experience total darkness, roads can become dangerous if drivers are focused on the sky instead of the road.
April is National Distracted Driver Awareness Month and while TxDOT reminds everyone to remain alert, they say drivers will have to take extra precautions to avoid a distraction of astronomical proportions.
"Kerrville is going to be, for lack of a better term, a wild place," said Astronomical Society of Southeast Texas member Will Young.
Young says the massive amount of people flocking to the line of totality for a clear view of the eclipse has led to disaster declarations in some Texas counties.
"The further south you are on that line, the better chances you have," he said.
A few of the counties declaring a state of emergency include Bell, Kerr and Travis Counties. Out-of-this-world hotel prices can be expected in these counties leading up to the eclipse.
"We're going to be overwhelmed," Young told 12News.
While many Southeast Texans are staying put April 8, TxDOT says a partial eclipse is enough to convince some drivers to look up into the sky instead of forward.
"Have a plan. Know there will be a lot more traffic. Some people may be urged to pull over. We ask people not to do that," TxDOT Beaumont District PIO Tanya Avila.
Avila says pulling off to the side of the road to witness a once-in-a-dark-moon event isn't worth your life.
"There's plenty of rest stops in the Beaumont district where people can go and park safely and watch the eclipse," she said.
She also advises drivers to keep their regular sunglasses on until they're safely off the road.
"We also encourage people not to wear the solar eclipse glasses while driving because it is dangerous," said Avila.
Even though she's also excited to see the eclipse with her own eyes, Avila stresses the importance of maintaining situational awareness and arriving alive.
"I think it's historic and I think people should enjoy it and have fun with it. Plan ahead," Avila said.
The eclipse should be the most visible for Southeast Texans between 12:22 p.m. and 3:03 p.m. Be sure to plan ahead and drive safe.