Reflecting on Safety and Accountability at Dangerous Intersections

Last Friday, I went to downtown Santa Cruz. After parking, I was crossing the street when an alarming incident took place. I saw an SUV stopped at a stop sign and, assuming the coast was clear, began to cross. As I neared the front of the car, however, the driver suddenly started the engine and moved forward, hitting me. Fortunately, I managed to push myself away using my right hand, jumping aside just in time to avoid a severe accident.

I was grateful to escape with only minor swelling and redness on my palm. I couldn’t help but think of others who might not have reacted so quickly, and how different this scenario could have been for someone less physically agile.

I shouted at the driver, questioning if he’d even seen me. He was visibly shaken and apologized, explaining that he hadn’t seen me because the intense sunlight had blocked his view. As a fellow driver, I can empathize with the challenges posed by California’s glaring sunlight, but it’s still essential to stay alert. I advised him to be more cautious in the future and was prepared to leave it at that.

Suddenly, a police car arrived, followed by two more. An officer approached me, asked about my condition, and offered medical assistance, which I declined as my injury seemed minor. I explained the driver’s excuse about the sunlight, and he confirmed that the intersection had a history of similar incidents due to the sun’s blinding glare at certain times of day. I asked how they arrived so quickly and learned they had been stationed just across the street, observing the entire event.

What struck me was the role the police were playing. While it was reassuring to know they were nearby, it raised a crucial question: if this intersection has led to so many accidents because of the blinding sunlight, why hasn’t the government taken action to address this hazard? Rather than addressing the root cause of the problem—by adding special signage, adjusting traffic signals, or even creating shaded structures—there seem to be officers stationed nearby, waiting to ticket drivers after accidents occur.

I am not blaming the officers; they were simply doing their jobs, following through with safety checks and enforcement. However, this experience highlighted a deeper issue. There are aspects of society that we know need improvement, yet they’re often left unresolved. Instead of tackling the causes of problems directly, we may be focusing on managing the symptoms.

For instance, could there be innovative solutions, such as advanced sunglasses or car visors, to combat intense sunlight while driving? If we acknowledge that strong sunlight can block drivers’ views and lead to accidents, why not develop effective ways to mitigate this risk?

What I hope is for people to consider the broader issue. We need a government that prioritizes proactive solutions and puts public safety above temporary fixes or revenue-generating fines. I believe it’s possible to create a more effective, solution-oriented approach to managing our society's issues—one that focuses on preventing accidents rather than responding only after they occur.