Another Accident at Intersection of Princeton and Warder
Accident at Princeton and Warder, November 4, 2014.
Yesterday, just before 8:00 a.m., there was yet another accident at the intersection of Princeton Place and Warder Street, NW. Those familiar with the intersection will know that northbound traffic on Warder Street does not have a stop sign whereas both east and westbound traffic on Princeton Place does. Every intersection on Warder south of Princeton is either an all-way stop or has a stop light, which I believe encourages drivers to speed up between Otis and Rock Creek Church Road (the next all-way stop).
In witnessing the accident yesterday, which is one of several to have occurred at this location over the past few months, it appeared that the eastbound vehicle either didn’t stop or did a rolling stop — perhaps under the assumption that Warder Street traffic has a stop sign. The accident involved two vehicles and one adult from the vehicle that was struck was taken away in an ambulance.
I’ve requested that DDOT review the safety and accident history of this intersection and consider making it an all-way stop already, but will follow up with them again after this recent event.
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Park View, D.C. 
November 5, 2014 at 9:29 am
Thanks Kent. In addition to the numerous accidents, cars heading up Warder rarely stop for pedestrians trying to cross at that intersection – often kids heading to/from the playground – despite the large signs directing them to do so. They’re wholly ineffective.
November 5, 2014 at 10:15 am
A few years ago I requested a “CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP” sign on Quincy at Warder/7th St., which has the same configuration as Princeton. Based on casual data collection from my front porch, it really seems to have reduced the incidence of crashes. I’m not sure if Princeton has those signs, but that’s a good place to start.
I think an all-way stop on every short block of Warder might be excessive stop-and-go. But maybe the frequency of crashes is intolerable.
November 5, 2014 at 10:16 am
I stil have not heard back from DDOT regarding my email yesterday. Will let you know when, if, I hear something. This is so frustrating because I know their accident date is not accurate. Most of these fender benders don’t get reported to the police so therefore no record. As I wrote in my email, between me and my nanny who is home during the day we have personally witnessed 8 in 3.5 years. I will post something on the PArk View FB page to see how other folks on Warder feel about the issues. Also, will McMillan development coming (which I support), the traffic will likely get much worse on Warder as people use this street to avoid GA avenue leaving the City at Rush hour. Unfortunately, the traffic study for the development did not include Warder. The time to make safety improvements is NOW. Its really terrifying to watch kids standing in the crosswalk waiting to cross and half the cars don;t even bother to slow down!
November 5, 2014 at 10:36 am
Being a regular East abound driver on Princeton and Quebec, I think that an all way stop would be very helpful. But I would also like to point out that it in my experience, cars parked on Warder make it almost impossible to see oncoming traffic on Warder unless one rolls up. By the time there is a clear view it can be too late. So it is not entirely correct to say that people aren’t stopping (partially or fully) but that currently there is no safe way of crossing warder without putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation.
November 5, 2014 at 2:56 pm
I’m with yz on this. I’ve lived on Princeton PL (@ Georgia Ave for 13yr. I always have a difficult time seeing what’s heading north on Warder.
November 5, 2014 at 12:11 pm
I fully support this idea. I’ve been saying this for 2 years now that it makes absolutely no sense to have those two streets not have stop signs while the rest do. And as you said, it encourages speeding between Otis and Rock Creek Church Rd. If you need community support for this, I’m sure there are many others who would back this decision.
Speaking of road safety issues in the Park View neighborhood, and while you’re discussing with DDOT, is there anyway to address speeding on Park Pl. from the Rock Creek Church Rd. light going south to the reservoir? I live two houses in and I hear every single night either cars or motorcycles racing by, going at least 50! I would think that road could be one lane instead of 2, like it is north of the Rock Creek Church light. If not a lane closure, then at least speed humps like they have on Quebec Pl. I’d be interested in talking to you about this further and figuring out a way forward. The speeding just makes Park Pl. so incredibly dangerous, especially since there’s a bike lane. The new speed camera doesn’t seem to be having any effect.
November 5, 2014 at 1:35 pm
I hear you. We keep getting speed cameras up and down Park Place, but there needs to be something more permanent. I look forward to chatting with you about this.
November 5, 2014 at 11:16 pm
I fully support this. I was walking south on Warder at this intersection with my baby in a stroller and a car nearly rolled through the stop sign and hit us. More generally, it seems commuters use Warder as an alternative to Georgia or other larger arteries. Given the presence of a school, park, and community center on this stretch, there ought to be more traffic calming to discourage this type of traffic.
December 2, 2014 at 7:01 am
[…] years seeking better traffic calming. In response, DDOT installed new crosswalk signs in May 2011. After the November 5, 2014, accident at the intersection, DDOT agreed to study the safety of the intersection […]
April 28, 2015 at 7:04 am
[…] seeking better traffic calming resulted in DDOT installing new crosswalk signs in May 2011. After the November 5, 2014, accident at the intersection, DDOT agreed to further study the safety of the […]