How to Check if a Road is Clear (Live Camera Method)

Live traffic cameras let you see road conditions in real-time before you leave. Instead of relying on delayed traffic reports or guessing, you can verify if a road is actually clear in seconds. Here's exactly how to do it.

The 60-Second Road Check

Finding Cameras for Your Specific Road

Search by Road Name

Use the search box to find cameras on specific highways or streets:

According to the FHWA, real-time traffic monitoring helps drivers make safer, more informed decisions. Research published in the FHWA Operations Benefit/Cost Database indicates that real-time traveler information systems can reduce incident-related delays by up to 40% by enabling faster detection and driver response. This visual verification is particularly important during winter; FHWA data shows that 24% of weather-related crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement, and average arterial speeds can decline by 30-40% in these conditions.

• Highway names: "I-95", "Highway 1", "M25"
• Street names: "Main Street", "Broadway"
• Intersections: "5th and Broadway", "Exit 42"

The search will show all cameras matching your location.

Browse by Map

1. Zoom to your area using the map controls or search for your city
2. Look for camera markers (cluster numbers indicate multiple cameras)
3. Click any marker to see the live feed
4. Pan along your route to find additional cameras

Filter by State or Country

Use the filter sidebar to narrow down cameras by:

• State/Province (US, Canada, Australia)
• Country (130+ countries available)
• Feed Type (video vs. still images)

What "Clear" Actually Looks Like

Signs the Road is Clear

✓ Traffic is moving at normal speed ✓ All lanes are visible and open ✓ Pavement is visible (not covered in snow/water) ✓ No stopped vehicles or emergency lights ✓ Good visibility in the camera image

Signs of Potential Problems

✗ Stopped or slow-moving traffic ✗ Emergency vehicle lights visible ✗ Reduced lane availability (cones, barriers) ✗ Poor visibility (heavy rain, fog, snow) ✗ Standing water across lanes ✗ Dark/no image (camera may be down)

Common Scenarios

Weather Check

Before driving in winter storms or heavy rain:

• View cameras at higher elevations to check for snow
• Look for plows or salt trucks (indicates active weather response)
• Check if pavement is wet, icy, or snow-covered
• Verify visibility conditions in the camera feed

Example: Planning a mountain pass drive? Check cameras at the summit and both approaches to see current snowfall and plow activity.

Accident Check

When traffic apps show an incident:

• Find the nearest camera to the reported location
• Verify if lanes are actually blocked or if traffic is moving
• See if emergency vehicles are still on scene
• Check cameras downstream to see backup extent

Example: Traffic app shows "accident at mile marker 47" but camera shows all lanes moving freely = incident may be cleared.

Construction Zone

Checking active work zones:

• Verify which lanes are actually closed
• See if workers are currently on site
• Check if lane closures are active (may be off-peak)
• Look for equipment or barriers

Example: DOT lists "construction zone" but camera shows all lanes open and no equipment = work may be suspended for the day.

Rush Hour Monitoring

Before your commute:

• Check usual bottleneck points
• Verify if HOV/express lanes are moving faster
• See if parking lots (highways at standstill) have formed
• Look for alternative route conditions

Example: I-405 camera shows complete standstill but I-5 camera shows moving traffic = take I-5 instead.

When Camera Data is Limited

No Camera on Your Exact Road

If there's no camera on your specific route:

1. Check nearby parallel roads (similar conditions likely)
2. Check intersecting highways (weather affects regions)
3. Look for cameras at both ends of your route
4. Use state/regional cameras to gauge overall conditions

Image vs. Video Feeds

Still image cameras (update every 1-5 minutes):

• Good for weather and pavement conditions
• Less reliable for real-time traffic flow
• Multiple views over 5-10 minutes show trends

Video feeds (live streaming):

• Best for real-time traffic assessment
• Can see moving vehicles and flow patterns
• Immediate verification of conditions

Mobile Quick-Check Workflow

On your phone, before leaving:

1. Open TrafficVision.Live in your mobile browser
2. Search for your route or tap "Near Me" to see local cameras
3. Tap a camera marker to open the fullscreen feed
4. Swipe left/right to check additional cameras along your route
5. Add cameras to favorites () for faster future checks

Advanced Techniques

Sequential Camera Verification

For long highway trips:

1. Identify cameras every 10-20 miles along your route
2. Check each in sequence from origin to destination
3. Add all to favorites for quick re-checking
4. Verify conditions again just before departure

Example route check: Boston to New York via I-95

• Camera at Waltham (I-95/I-90)
• Camera at Providence (I-95/Route 146)
• Camera at New Haven (I-95/I-91)
• Camera at Stamford (I-95/Merritt Parkway)
• Camera at Bronx (I-95/Cross Bronx)

Time-Based Comparison

Check the same camera multiple times:

• Morning check: Is rush hour building up?
• Noon check: Has congestion cleared?
• Evening check: Is traffic backing up again?

Save frequently used cameras to favorites () for instant access.

Multi-Route Comparison

When you have alternate routes:

1. Open cameras on Route A (your usual route)
2. Add to favorites with naming convention (e.g., "I-5 Commute")
3. Open cameras on Route B (alternate)
4. Add to favorites with different naming (e.g., "US-101 Backup")
5. Compare both sets before each trip

When to Trust Cameras vs. Other Sources

Cameras are BETTER than apps when:

✓ You need visual confirmation of conditions ✓ Apps show "incident" but you want to see if it's cleared ✓ Checking weather conditions (snow, rain, fog) ✓ Verifying current traffic flow (not predicted) ✓ Seeing exact lane closures in work zones

Apps/GPS are BETTER than cameras when:

✓ You need estimated travel time (cameras don't provide ETA) ✓ No cameras exist on your route ✓ You want turn-by-turn navigation ✓ Checking incidents beyond camera view ✓ Finding alternate routes with time comparisons