OHIO — The solar eclipse is a month away, and Ohioans will find themselves in the path of totality where the sun will be blocked for approximately four minutes.

AAA released safety tips for drivers who find themselves on roadways as the eclipse begins to keep themselves and others safe.

“As spectacular as this once-in-a-lifetime event will be, if you happen to catch a glimpse of it while behind the wheel, do not turn your eyes away from the road,” said Kara Hitchens, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA. “Aside from damaging your eyes, looking at the eclipse while driving is distracted driving at its worst. While AAA recommends staying off the road during the eclipse, if you have to drive keep sun visors and cell phones down to protect your eyes, reduce temptation to look at the sun, and avoid distracted driving.”

According to the Great American Eclipse, Cleveland, Akron, Dayton, Toledo and Bowling Green are among the cities that will be in the path of totality. Cincinnati, Columbus, Canton, and Youngstown are close to the totality path and will all be influx with visitors looking for the moon's shadow.

AAA said to expect traffic jams as people may hop on the road to find a good viewing spot of the eclipse. Start times for the eclipse vary across the state, beginning at 1:52 p.m. in Cincinnati, 1:53 p.m. in Dayton, 1:55 p.m. in Columbus and 1:59 p.m. in Cleveland.

Other safety tips for drivers during the eclipse include:

•        Keep headlights on
•        Put the sun visor down to block your view of the sun
•        Do not wear eclipse glasses while driving
•        Do not try to photograph or video the eclipse while driving
•        Do not pull over to the side of the road, highway or interstate to view the eclipse
•        Exit the roadway and park in a safe area away from traffic to view the eclipse
•        Be mindful of pedestrians that many be walking around with their eyes on the sky