With hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors staring up at the sky, Monday’s eclipse is almost certain to cause headaches for local law enforcement and city officials bracing for huge influxes of people and traffic.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation estimates that anywhere from 300,000 to more than 1 million people will flood into the state for the event, putting pressure on the state’s road systems, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol is encouraging drivers to be extra cautious.
“We would encourage all drivers to watch their following distances as they travel to their destinations due to the possible heavy volume of traffic,” said Lt. John Harmon, a highway patrol spokesman.
“The [highway patrol’s] goal is for everyone to enjoy the safe viewing of the eclipse and arrive alive.”
He also discouraged drivers from stopping on the sides of interstates, saying it could be dangerous to the driver and others.