Speeding is not a problem on Cardinal Drive in Woodbridge, where a woman was struck and later died after walking her dog on May 1.
The victim, Deborah Lynn Talbot, 50, died two days later at an area hospital. A suspect, 19-year-old Cierra Dickerson, is charged with racing, a form of reckless driving, is scheduled to have a jury trial on February 8, 2021.
Prince William County Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry ordered county police to conduct a study. It did, between May 14 and June 17, and found most drivers travel at or below the posted speed limit of 45 mph.
“Speed on Cardinal Drive is not an issue overall,” said Prince William police Lt. Joe Robinson, who presented the study data to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on November 17.
Police studied three locations along the five-mile stretch of road — at the Moose Lodge, at the intersection with Benita Fitzgerald Drive, and at Waterway Drive, at Montclair’s west entrance.
Cardinal Drive eastbound approach to the Moose Lodge, 15424 Cardinal Drive
- Average cars per day 5,517
- Average speed 45.3 mph
Cardinal Drive eastbound approach to the Moose Lodge, at 15424 Cardinal Drive
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- Average cars per day: 4,683
- Average speed: 45.3 mph
Cardinal Drive eastbound approach to Benita Fitzgerald Drive
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- Average cars per day: 6,474
- Average speed: 38.4 mph
Cardinal Drive eastbound approach to Benita Fitzgerald Drive
- Average cars per day: 6,192
- Average speed: 41.5
Cardinal Drive eastbound approach to Waterway Drive
- Average cars per day: 8,154
- Average speed: 45.3 mph
Cardinal Drive westbound approach to Waterway Drive
- Average vehicles per day: 6,421
- Average speed: 47.1
Robison explained to the Board of County Supervisors the road has multiple straight portions that allow some drivers to reach speeds over 90 mph, and he added those cases are rare.
Last year, police spent more than 400 hours conducting speed enforcement on Cardinal Drive, issuing some 825 tickets. This year, they’ve spent 300 hours patrolling the area, issuing more than 340 tickets.
Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey asked police if more speed indicator signs could be installed along the street. The signs warn show oncoming drivers how fast they’re traveling and then begin flashing if they exceed the sign’s posted speed limit.
Ann Wheeler, Chair, At-large, directed police to look into “Vision Zero,” a European method that has been adopted by urban localities Arlington, and Washington, D.C., used to curb pedestrian deaths.
The program would require more speed cameras that are used to find speeders. Overall, the program would not work in Prince William County, police said, as the community lacks a light rail transportation system. Its residents rely on vehicles to get where they’re going.
Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin voiced her displeasure with the prospect of using more speed cameras, or “traps,” saying they disproportionally affect the poor.
Following the presentation, Angry was undeterred.
“I’m going to do all we can to get a handle on speeding,” Angry said.
9 thoughts on “Motorists obey speed limit on Cardinal Drive in Woodbridge, study finds”
Why don’t you just close the road. That would get a handle on speeding! Seems to me you could get a ticket for doing 10mph in a model “T” back in the day! What a colossal waste of time and money.
If the average speed in locations was slightly over 45, then many, many cars are exceeding the speed limit. The supervisors need o information on the distribution of actual speeds. It seems likely that this is a fertile location for enhanced enforcement.
Maybe not a problem on Cardinal because they’re all on Minnieville between Spriggs and 234. Speeders ANYTIME of the day or night. And supervisor Bailey does nothing about it.
There’s no speeding on that road because the Police Station is literally at the end of Cardinal
Cardinal Drive has a police station at one end and squad cars are going up and down it all the time. Mapledale Avenue, a straight drag not near any police station, gets motorcyclists going 50 or 60 regularly not to mention some muscle cars, as there aren’t but one or two stop signs and no speed bumps. One motorcyclist died on Mapledale Avenue a few years back but still nothing done for this road. Guess it will take a few more speed-related fatalities before anything is done. Police do a once or twice a year hang out for speeders but only during the daytime. The road needs speed bumps.
I have been following this story ever since of the unfortunate tragedy earlier this year. Doing such a detailed study is entirely too myopic. I used to live 5 mins. from Cardinal and took that road all hours of the day for 6 years- Google maps somehow has posted speed at 40 mph (or at least then) In Prince William, there has been an 85 percent increase in fatalities despite such a drastic reduction in overall traffic volume. Even tonight, Rt 1 Southbound was completely shut down due to 95S incident. Speeding is a real issue in the County and more people are dying here over 2019 as a result. Stay safe
Ask any pedestrian walking Cardinal from Benita Fitzgerald. Cardinal drive can be very dangerous at times
I TOTALLY disagree with this article. The back of my townhouse faces Cardinal Drive. Since covid, I’ve been working remotely. I hear vehicles at all hours of the day speeding and racing. As convenient it is to take my walks on Cardinal Drive, I AVOID IT. The study held for a few weeks does not give the true picture of speeders. Yes, Garfield Station sits at the end of Cardinal Drive, that doesn’t deter speeders. Just the other evening, while making my run to Wegman’s, a white Lexus Flew by me…AND THIS WAS AT THE LIGHT AT THE POLICE STATION.
Yes! Finally something about balt.