Burford Lane live traffic
Real time traffic measurements for Burford Lane, Lymm.
(tip - you can scroll within the tables below)
Information
This data is based on a computer vision solution created by Greg Tinkers, enhanced by Tim Hodges and inspired by The Drift.xyz.
The system is using a Raspberry Pi and camera, running object tracking software that performs counting & determination of the speed of live traffic, storing this information and presenting the data in the charts shown. The web page currently updates in near real time - this may be reduced if the quantity of page views impacts performance.
The system is calibrated for vehicles passing at 30mph in each direction.
"Frame count" indicates the number of samples taken as a vehicle passes (more generally is 'good', though higher speeds = fewer frames captured).
"SD" - standard deviation between speed calculations - 1 is 'best', 99 is 'worst'. The system drops records with a high standard deviation (this is monitored, typically a 'high' SD is caused by anomalies such as cyclists being overtaken by a car & producing misleading speed measurements)
The system is set to ignore objects that are slower than 10mph (e.g. excluding pedestrians), and hides objects that are at very high speeds (usually errors).
The medium term aim is to gather data on speeding vehicles to publicise the issue, to permit enforcement authorities to target resources effectively to demonstrate trends (the effectiveness of various interventions).
Location
This page is using a device located on Burford Lane, Lymm. The device is located within the 30mph limit.
This section of road was amended from National speed limit in ~2010 to 40mph, and then amended to 30mph in the autumn of 2022. There are two Telraam traffic monitors on this section of road that record similar data - but will show small differences (the Telraam devices only operate during daylight hours, categorise vehicle type and differentiate between pedestrians and vehicles).
The road is rural, with both arable fields and built up areas (under the definition used for road speed assessments). The road is north - south, with north being downhill. The road has a wide mix of traffic, is popular with cyclists (links several national cycle routes) and has a lot of farm traffic, particularly at harvest. There are several local Traction Engine enthusiasts, so there are a number of Traction Engines passing, also this road is the main route to a local boat yard on the Bridgewater Canal, with a suprisingly high number of narrow boat and wide beam boat deliveries using the route.
The road has traffic lights onto the main road at the top (south) end, and a set of double traffic lights at the bottom (north end) at the single lane canal aqueduct. The traffic lights at each end coupled with the typical route used / direction of the only other junction onto Burford Lane effectively limit traffic flow. The traffic lights lead to vehicles 'bunching' at busy periods.
Burford Lane is used as an alternative route when there are major issues on the local motorways - particularly the M6, but also the M56 an occasionally the M62. As at early 2024 there are issues with water flooding the road from fields / private land, and the aqueduct is at risk of flooding and closure due to this & issues with the highway drainage. The aqueduct has sensors which turn the traffic lights red when flooding is detected.
Blue light traffic (primarily police cars) typically passes along the road at between 40-45mph.