Editing Road hierarchy (section)

{{short description|Hierarchy in road traffic}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Annotated image |image=Road-hierarchy-channelization.svg |image-width=250 |width=170 |height=195 |caption=To reduce costs, a road hierarchy (bottom) channels travel demand (desire line thickness between settlements, top). Higher-class direct roads serve high-demand trips; lower-demand trips follow less direct routes on lower-class roads.}}
[[File:Road-movement-hierarchy.svg|thumb|Six-stage hierarchy of traffic movement: main movement, transition, distribution, collection, access and termination. At the start, they occur in reverse order, and intermediary stages may be absent. Each stage typically occurs on a corresponding functional road type (e.g. distribution on minor arterials).]]
{{Annotated image |image=Basic functional road classes.svg |image-width=247 |width=160 |height=203 |caption=Basic functional road classes (arterial, collector and local) along the mobility-access continuum. Naming, range and subdivisions of each class vary by [[administrative division]].}}

A '''road hierarchy''' is a system for categorizing [[road]]s. Road networks worldwide are typically organized according to one or more schemes:
* ''Functional classification'' reflects a road’s intended role, balancing mobility (efficient through movement) and access (reaching properties) by defining a clear hierarchy from [[Arterial road|arterial]]s (including [[limited-access road]]s and [[controlled-access highway]]s) to [[Collector road|collector]]s and local roads.<ref name="fhwa-functional-classification"/><ref name="erso-classification"/>
* ''Administrative classification'' mirrors government tiers responsible for funding and maintenance, creating a hierarchy from national to local roads.
* ''Design type classification'' groups roads by [[Geometric design of roads|geometric]] and operational characteristics, such as lane configuration and access control, and does not always form a strict hierarchy.<ref name="aashto-functional-classification"/><ref name="erso-classification"/>

While conceptually distinct, these classification systems often overlap in practice. Roads of higher administrative status typically serve higher functional roles and follow higher design standards, though exceptions are common. Most countries emphasize either functional or administrative classification for legal and planning purposes, while design standards are applied during implementation.<ref name="erso-classification">{{cite web |title=Road classification |url=https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/european-road-safety-observatory/statistics-and-analysis-archive/roads/road-classification_en |publisher=European Commission |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219203231/https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/european-road-safety-observatory/statistics-and-analysis-archive/roads/road-classification_en |archive-date=19 December 2024 |access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>

The related concept of [[access management]] aims to provide access to [[real estate|land development]] while ensuring traffic flows freely and safely on surrounding roads.