Birdham Community Speedwatch Group

Birdham Community Speedwatch (CSW) group volunteers monitor traffic speeds on the village lanes and on the A286, Birdham Straight, with regular roadside sessions. Vehicle speeds are monitored using a handheld calibrated device, supplied by West Sussex police. Vehicles exceeding the speed limit are referred to the police with the aim of educating drivers to reduce their speeds. In cases where there is evidence of repeat or excessive offending, enforcement action, including prosecution can be taken by the police

We are supported in monitoring vehicle speeds around the village by Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs), purchased by the Birdham Parish Council, which display the speed of a vehicle as it approaches the SID.

The SIDs have been approved by WSCC Highways department to be located at five sites in the village: Bell Lane, Crooked Lane, Church Lane, Siddlesham Lane and on the Birdham straight.

The 20mph speed limit on Crooked Lane, Church Lane, Westlands Lane and Martins Lane was approved by WSCC highways in July 2025. This led Birdham Parish Council to purchase a second SID.

The SIDs record the speeds of vehicles as well as the time and direction of travel but does not record vehicle registration details as they are not cameras. The data from the SIDs is regularly downloaded by the CSW group and posted below.

The Birdham CSW group is always keen to welcome new members; by joining the group you will be helping your local community and the Sussex Police to:

  • Keep the village lanes safe for all users, making Birdham a safer place
  • Reduce speeding offences
  • Reduce casualties from speed related incidents
  • Increase awareness of safer driving
  • Tackle antisocial driving and riding

Full training will be provided by Sussex Police and more information is available on www.communityspeedwatch.org.

If you are interested in joining the group please contact either Mike Evans, (01243 514095) or the Parish Clerk to support the group’s aim to maintain a safe and pleasant environment in our village for all residents.

12th - 24th October Church Lane

SID data for Church Lane, Birdham 12 – 24 October

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Westbound = 7,513
  • Eastbound  = 4,072

Max speeds detected:

  • Westbound = 70mph (23rd at 1056)
  • Eastbound  = 45mph (15th at 1920)

Distribution:

  • Westbound:<25mph = 73%, 26-30mph = 22%, >30mph = 5% (421 vehicles with 9 >40mph)
  • Eastbound :<25mph = 78%, 26-30mph = 16%, >30mph = 6% (254 vehicles with 5 >40mph)

SID will remain in Church Lane but will be visible to Westbound vehicles for the next monitoring period.

20th Sept - 7th October 2025 Crooked Lane

SID data for Crooked Lane, Birdham (20mph zone) 20th Sept – 7th Oct 2025

The SID was in a 20mph area, near the village school, and was visible to traffic heading North.

Summary:

Vehicles detected:

  • Northbound = 3,240
  • Southbound = 4,605

Max Speeds detected:

  • Northbound = 50mph (4th Oct at 1200)
  • Southbound = 53mph (20th Sept at 1403)

Distribution:

  • Northbound = <25mph = 80%, 26-30 = 14%,  >30 = 6% (175 vehicles with 3 >40mph)
  • Southbound = <25mph = 84%, 26=30 = 13%, >30 = 3% (154 vehicles with 4 >40mph)

 

14th - 30th September 2025 Church Lane

SID data for Church Lane, Birdham, 14 – 30 September 2025

Summary:

Vehicles recorded

  • Heading NW = 6,462
  • Heading SE  = 4,256

Max speeds recorded:

  • Heading NW = 48mph (29th at 23:25)
  • Heading SE  = 49mph (15th at 20:00 and 22nd at 14:09)

Distribution:

  • Heading NW = <25mph = 80%, 26-30mph = 15%, >30mph = 303 vehicles (5%) with 9 >40mph
  • Heading SE  = <25mph = 61%, 26-30mph = 28%, >30mph = 455 vehicles (11%) with 12 >40mph

 

3rd - 19th September 2025

SID data for Crooked Lane, Birdham (20mph zone) 3rd – 19th Sept 2025

 

Summary:

Vehicles detected:

  • Northbound = 3,042
  • Southbound = 4,333

Max Speeds detected:

  • Northbound = 47mph (7th at 17:43)
  • Southbound = 46mph (4th at 17:43 & 11th at 07:30)

Speed distribution:

  • Northbound: <25mph = 81%, 25-30mph = 14%, >30mph = 5% (161 vehicles of which 6 were > 40mph.)
  • Southbound: <25mph = 84%, 25-30mph = 13%, >30mph = 3% (134 vehicles of which 7 were >40mph.)

8th - 24th October 2025 Sidlesham Lane

SID data for Siddlesham Lane, Birdham 8-24 October 2025

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Eastbound = 14,492
  • Westbound = 15,927

Max speeds recorded:

  • Eastbound = 103mph (17th at 1228), 101mph (19th at 1228), 97mph (8th at 2038), 91mph (16th at 1000), 83mph (16th at 2038)
  • Westbound= 84mph (13th at 1214)

Distribution:

  • Eastbound = <40mph = 84%, 41-50 = 14%, >50 = 2%, 365vehicles with 25> 70mph
  • Westbound= <40mph = 77%, 41-50 = 14%, >50 = 9%, 529vehicles with 13 > 70mph

2nd - 12th October Church Lane

SID data Church Lane Birdham 2 Oct – 12 Oct 2025

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Heading West = 4,035
  • Heading East  = 2,947

Max speeds:

  • Heading West = 55mph (6 Oct, 2245)
  • Heading East  = 47mph (4 Oct, 1138)

Distribution:

  • Heading West: <25mph = 82%, 26-30 = 14%, >30 = 4% = 155 vehicles with 5>40mph.
  • Heading East: <25mph = 62%, 26-30 = 28%, >30 = 10% = 314 vehicles with 11>40mph.

27th July to 8th August

Summary of data for this 20mph area:

Vehicles recorded: (SID visible to vehicles heading NW)

  • Heading NW = 6,015
  • Heading SE  = 5,805

Max Speeds detected:

  • NW = 49mph (31/7 at 18:21)
  • SE = 49mph  (31/7 at 18:30 and 27/7 at 19:26)

Distribution

  • NW < 25mph = 80%, 25-30mph = 15%,  >30mph = 288 vehicles of which 9 were recorded at > 40mph
  • SE  < 25mph = 62%, 25-30mph = 26%,  >30mph = 702 vehicles of which 20 were recorded at >40mph.

 

13 June - 3 July 2025

SID data for Church Lane, Birdham between 13 June and 3 July 2025.

Speed Limit was 30mph and the SID was visible to vehicles travelling NW towards the Church

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • NW = 5,336
  • SE =  3,088

Max Speeds recorded:

  • NW = 43mph (18/6 at 0645)
  • SE  = 48mph (27/6 at 10:55 & 29/6 at 20:38)

Vehicle > 30mph

  • NW = 5% (124)
  • SE  = 15% (462)

SID has now been moved to the Crooked Lane site near the School and will be reset when the 20mph TRO is introduced on 7 July 2025.

8 - 12 June 2025

SID was sited on the Birdham Straight, Birdham (40mph zone) and its display was visible to motorists travelling North.

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Northbound = 30,258
  • Southbound = 20,153

Max speeds recorded:

  • Northbound = 73mph (11th June at 0509)
  • Southbound = 83mph (10th June at 0415)

Vehicles > 40mph

  • Northbound = 2,071 (7%)
  • Southbound = 1,010 (5%)

Vehicles > 60mph

  • Northbound = 13
  • Southbound = 7

The SID has now been moved to the Church Lane site

2 - 7 June 2025

SID for the A286, Birdham Straight 2-7 June 2025. (40mph zone)

Summary:

Vehicles detected:

  • Northbound = 31,102
  • Southbound = 22,130

Max speeds recorded:

  • Northbound = 71mph (3/6 at 2236)
  • Southbound = 61mph (4/6 at 1938)

Vehicles > 40mph

  • Northbound = 2,633 (8.5%)
  • Southbound = 1,100 (5%)

Vehicles > 60mph

  • Northbound = 17
  • Southbound = 2

25 May - 1 June 2025

Data set from the Birdham Parish Council’s SID which was located outside Tawny Nursery in Bell Lane (B2198) between 25 May and 1 June 2025.

This is a 40mph zone and the speed display was visible to vehicles travelling towards Bracklesham.

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Towards Bracklesham = 20,287
  • Towards Birdham Roundabout = 24,691

Max’ Speeds recorded:

  • Towards Bracklesham = 76mph (26th May at 12:11)
  • Towards Birdham = 74mph (30th May at 00:06)

Vehicles recorded at >40mph

  • Towards Bracklesham = 1,470 (7.25%)
  • Towards Birdham        = 2, 082 (8.5%)

Of which >60mph

  • Towards Bracklesham = 24
  • Towards Birdham = 21

The SID has now been relocated to the A286 (Birdham Straight)

20 - 25 May 2025

SID was located on the B2198 in a 40mph zone outside Tawny Nursery in Bell Lane and the display was visible to drivers heading towards Bracklesham.

Summary:

Vehicles detected:

  • Towards Birdham roundabout = 19,499
  • Towards Bracklesham = 16,693

Max speeds:

  • Towards Birdham roundabout = 76mph (23/2240)
  • Towards Bracklesham = 75mph (21/2004)

Vehicles > 40mph

  • Towards Birdham roundabout = 9% = 1,814
  • Towards Bracklesham = 8% = 1,300

Of which vehicles > 60mph

  • Towards Birdham roundabout = 18
  • Towards Bracklesham = 19

7 - 18 May 2025

Please find attached the latest SID data for vehicles using Siddlesham Lane (40mph zone) between 7th and 8th May 2025.

(SID display was visible to eastbound traffic)

Summary:

  • Eastbound vehicles  =   9,046
  • Westbound vehicles = 10,590

Max speeds recorded:

  • Eastbound = 80mph (9th May at 1940hrs)
  • Westbound = 74mph (11th May at 0734hrs)

Vehicles exceeding 40mph:

  • Eastbound = 12.8% = 1,162
  • Westbound= 20.2% = 2,143

Of which vehicles exceeding 60mph:

  • Eastbound = 15
  • Westbound = 40

Please be advised that the SID has now been moved to Bell Lane (Tawny Nursery site)

27 April - 7 May 2025

SID vehicle data from Siddlesham Lane, Birdham 27 April – 7 May 2025

This is a 40mph zone and the SID display was visible to eastbound vehicles (travelling away from the main road)

Summary:

Vehicles recorded

  • Eastbound =  8,165
  • Westbound= 10,235

Max speeds recorded:

  • Eastbound = 74mph (28/2246)
  • Westbound= 72mph (29/1505)

Vehicles exceeding 40mph limit

  • Eastbound = 1,169 (14%)
  • Westbound = 2,197 (21%)

of which > 60mph:

  • Eastbound = 9
  • Westbound = 27

SID will remain in Siddlesham :Lane for a further week.

17 - 27 April 2025

SID data for Church Lane, Birdham 17 – 27 April 2025.

The SID was visible to traffic heading NW (towards Birdham Church)

Summary:

  • Vehicles heading NW (towards Church) = 3,533
  • Vehicles heading SE (towards main Rd) = 2,295

Max speed recorded:

  • 43mph, heading SE towards Main Rd, (20th April at 2100hrs)

Vehicles > 30mph:

  • Heading NW (towards Church) = 4%,  141vehicles
  • Heading SE (towards Main Rd) = 10%, 230vehicles

The SID has now been moved to Siddlesham Lane.

11 - 17 April 2025

SID was deployed in Church Lane, Birdham

The SID was in a 30mph zone and was visible to vehicles heading NW, from the main road towards the village Church.

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Towards Church NW = 2166
  • Towards Main Rd SE = 1425

Max speed recorded:

  • 47mph (Towards Main Road on 13 April at 19:56)

Vehicles exceeding 30mph:

  • Heading towards Church (NW) = 87 (4%)
  • Heading towards Main Road (SE) = 142 (10%)

SID will remain in Church Lane for a further week before being relocated to Siddlesham Lane

31 March - 11 April 2025

Data from the village council’s SID which was located in Crooked Lane, Birdham 31 March -11 April 2025.

Crooked Lane is a 30mph zone and SID was visible to traffic heading NW (towards the church).

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Proceeding NW = 2,875
  • Proceeding SW = 3,281

Max’ speed recorded:

  • 64 mph (proceeding SE towards main road) at 12:10 on 1st April

Vehicles recorded exceeding 30mph:

  • Proceeding NW = 144
  • Proceeding SE  = 115

SID is now located in Church Lane

22 - 30 March 2025

Data from the BPC SID for the Bell Lane (Tawny Nursery) site from 22 – 30 March 2025

This site is in a 40mph zone

Summary:

Vehicles detected:

  • Towards Bracklesham = 18,236
  • Towards Birdham        =  21,101

Max speeds detected:

  • Towards Bracklesham = 81mph (29th at 0950)
  • Towards Birdham         = 80mph (29th at 2127)

Vehicles > 40mph

  • Towards Bracklesham = 1,382 (of which 22 were detected at >60mph)
  • Towards Birdham         = 2,192 (of which 35 were detected at >60mph)

SID has now been moved to Crooked Lane, near the village school.

14 - 22 March 2025

SID located outside Tawny Nursery, Bell Lane, Birdham 14-22 March 2025 in a 40mph zone.

SID was visible to vehicles travelling towards Bracklesham.

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Towards Bracklesham = 23,310
  • Towards Birdham = 27,249

Max speeds recorded:

  • Towards Bracklesham = 84mph (21/23:23), (28 vehicles were recorded at > 60mph)
  • Towards Birdham        = 86mph (21/07:26),  (30 vehicles were recorded at > 60mph)

Vehicles > 40mph

  • Towards Bracklesham = 1,538   (7%)
  • Towards Birdham         = 2,720  (10%)

SID remains in Bell Lane and will be relocated to Crooked Lane (near the school) next week.

11 February - 13 March 2025

Church Lane is in a 30mph zone, and is also within the proposed 20mph zone for the village lanes.

Summary.

Vehicles detected (SID visible to eastbound traffic):

  • Eastbound : 10,691
  • Westbound:   9,210

Max speed detected:

  • 59mph = Eastbound (8 Mar at 1000)

Vehicles > 30mph

  • Eastbound : 535 (5%)
  • Westbound: 920 (10%)

Vehicles > 40mph

  • Eastbound :  6
  • Westbound: 18

Please note that SID is now located in Bell Lane (near Tawny Nurseries)

28 January - 11 February 2025

Speed Indicator Device (SID) data from Siddlesham Lane, Birdham for the period 28 January to 11 February 2025

nb. The SID was visible to Eastbound vehicles, the speed limit in this area is 40mph.

Summary:

Vehicles detected:

  • Westbound: 11,800;
  • Eastbound: 10,665.

Max speeds recorded:

  • 87mph, Eastbound (6th Feb at 0745);
  • 84mph, Westbound (9th Feb at 2319)

Vehicles recorded at > 40mph:

  • Westbound = 20% (2,360)
  • Eastbound  = 15% (1,599)

16 - 28 January 2025

SID data for Siddlesham Lane (40mph zone), 16th – 28 January 2025.

(SID display is visible to Eastbound vehicles at this site)

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Westbound = 9693
  • Eastbound  = 8491

Maximum speeds recorded:

  • Westbound = 97 mph (20th at 07:35) and 92mph (22nd at 2024)
  • Eastbound  = 78 mph (22nd at 0735)

Vehicles >40mph

  • Westbound = 20% (1938 vehicles)
  • Eastbound  = 14% (1190 vehicles)

2 - 16 January 2025

Speed Indicating Device (SID) for 2nd = 16th January 2025.

SID was located in Church Lane (30mph zone) and its display was visible to Westbound traffic.

Summary:

Vehicles recorded:

  • Westbound = 5116
  • Eastbound = 4045

Max speeds recorded:

  • Westbound = 39 mph (4th January at 1639) (No vehicles were recorded > 40mph)
  • Eastbound = 47 mph  (13th January at 1825) (12 vehicles were recorded > 40mph)

Vehicles recorded > 30mph

  • Westbound = 4% = 204vehicles
  • Eastbound = 10% = 404 vehicles.

SID has now been moved to the Siddlesham lane site

22 December 2024 - 2 January 2025

SID, taken from Church lane (30mph zone) between 22 December 2024 and 2 January 2025.

Summary:

Vehicles detected:

  • Westbound = 3328
  • Eastbound =  2378

Max Speeds detected:

  • Westbound = 45mph (27/12/24 @ 1109)
  • Eastbound  = 48mph (23/12/24 @ 1051)

Vehicles detected @ > 30mph:

  • Westbound = 4.5% (155 vehicles)
  • Eastbound  = 10 % (238 vehicles)