Motorists are being told that they may need to turn on their headlights this evening as the country prepares to plunge into darkness with the solar eclipse.
Millions of people across the UK and Europe are eagerly anticipating the historic solar eclipse taking place tonight.
Much of the continent is set to be blanketed by darkness as more than 90 per cent of the sun will be covered by the moon.
People in parts of Iceland and Spain will have the opportunity to witness a rare total eclipse, although experts are warning drivers of potential issues when travelling this evening.
The RAC has warned that some motorists may need to take action tonight if they are behind the wheel between 6pm and 8pm when the eclipse takes place.
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, 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.
"The best advice to enjoy this rare event is to pull over somewhere safe and watch with specialist glasses."
He warned that anyone driving in a westerly direction at the time of the eclipse should be cautious when travelling.
He said that people taking their eyes off the road "even for a split second" could increase the risk of being involved in an accident.
Mr Williams also warned that drivers could risk suffering long-term damage to their vision if they fail to take the correct precautions.
Many people have scrambled to find the correct glasses to safely watch the solar eclipse, with this being the UK's most significant eclipse since 1999.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) states that there are two safe approaches to watch the eclipse, notably specialist glasses or indirect viewing methods.
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Eclipse glasses with specially designed filters must meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015(E).
It warned that people should be cautious when buying these products online, as they may not meet this certification requirement.
Alternative options include a pinhole viewer, viewing the sun's image projected through a colander or between tree leaves, or using a sheet of paper.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of people experiencing vision problems after watching the eclipse in 1999.
According to the BBC, around 40 per cent of those affected had looked at the sun for less than a minute.
Mohamed Elalfy, president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: "The retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it happens."
The Royal Museums Greenwich, which is a UKHSA-recommended seller of eclipse glasses, reported that it had sold out both online and in store.
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