Keep those windshields clean and defrosted; wear sunglasses on sunny days
“Nearly two years ago our mom, Wilma Chan, was struck and killed by a car as she crossed Shoreline Drive in the crosswalk. Her untimely death occurred less than a week before the end of Daylight Saving Time, when the angle of the morning sun can reduce visibility,” said Daren Chan. “The driver’s vision was impeded by the sun in her eyes, but she kept driving and in an instant, our lives changed forever. Our family lost a beloved mom, grandmother, sister, and aunt. Our community lost their County Supervisor, a former State Assembly leader, and an accomplished trailblazer whose work was not done.”
Jennifer Chan added: “Our loss could have been avoided, so as we enter this same time of year, we would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone to take extra precautions to prevent another tragedy.” said Jennifer Chan.
Earlier this year another fatal crash occurred on a sunny Alameda morning. This time, a driver who left home without first de-fogging their car’s windshield failed to see an elderly pedestrian crossing the street. The pedestrian was struck and killed.
Wilma Chan’s children and the City of Alameda are working together to spread awareness about the dangers of driving with low visibility. They share these tips from the Alameda Police Department:
- Defrost your windshields before driving, and make sure they are clean, inside and out.
- Wear sunglasses and use the car’s sun visor on sunny days.
- Reduce your speed as you approach intersections.
- Watch out for vulnerable road users—pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists.
- Adjust your departure time or route to avoid the sun’s glare.
- If you can’t see, safely pull over until you can.
“We urge drivers to follow these common sense precautions,” said Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft. “Take a minute to save a life.”
The City of Alameda’s Vision Zero goal is to end traffic fatalities and severe injuries by 2035. The majority of street safety improvement work is proactive—street projects with a total cost of $40 million will be constructed between 2024 and 2026, including projects on Grand Street, Central Avenue, Clement Avenue, and Clement Avenue/Tilden Way. Learn more about Vision Zero plans on the City’s Vision Zero web page.
