Editing Road hierarchy (section)

===={{lang|fr|Routes nationales|italic=no}}====
Before the construction of {{lang|fr|autoroutes}}, {{lang|fr|[[Route Nationale (France)|routes nationales]]}} were the highest classification of road.  They are denoted by a route number beginning "N", or occasionally "RN". Going back to a Napoleonic road classification system, these are main roads comparable with British primary routes.  They are maintained directly by the state and are usually the shortest route between major centres. Many N-class roads are dual carriageway for some or all of their length, with a few also being given the designation of semi-motorway, where junctions are grade-separated and there is a central reservation with crash barrier.  The hard shoulder is often narrower than on full motorways and there are fewer emergency telephones.