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Iceland police warn tourist drivers to stop gazing at Northern Lights sky

Photo from The Associated Press
Photo from The Associated Press

Driving in a foreign country can be a challenge. Roadways might narrower, drivers might be more aggressive and one can be easily distracted by their new surroundings.

This problem has been frequent in Iceland, where the awe-inspiring Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, illuminates the night sky above the rugged island nation.

BBC News reports authorities in Iceland have been recently stopping tourists for driving erratically. First suspected of being intoxicated, police say the drivers pulled over were sober but may have been distracted by the bright light displayed overhead.

Law enforcement officials are advising motorists to stay focused on the road, not the sky.

“The driver told the police he saw the Northern Lights and couldn’t bring himself to stop looking at them,” police in Iceland say in a statement. “The police asked him to park the vehicle if he wanted to keep on gazing at the sky.”

Tourists traversing the rocky countryside by car have caused some traffic problems for locals. Foreigners have been accused of stopping in the middle of roadways to take photographs of waterfalls, Icelandic horses and glaciers, which can sometimes lead to collisions.

Designated areas for taking photos have been proposed in order to make driving safer for everyone.