Roadway system

The roadway system indicates at the same time:

  • the whole of the ways of Circulation (the Highway network: Road S, Way S, Street S, etc) with their dependences,
  • nature and the structure of these ways (single track, 2 X 2 ways, etc).

Classification of the roadway systems

One can classify the roadway systems in several ways.

By manager

The financial expenses to build and maintain the roadway systems are shared between multiple actors: the State (trunk roads and not conceded Highways), the Areas of Belgium, the provinces of Canada, the French general advices (secondary roads and trunk roads of local interest), common S or even of the private organizations (companies of shopping highways or center).

Under ordinary conditions, this concept does not have any consequence on the user. The rules of the Highway code apply in the same way to all the ways open to public circulation. The knowledge of the manager is useful for him only in the event of administrative procedure (authorization of roadway system, certificate of alignment) or in the event of conflict (accident due to a permissive waste). In France, it is the administrative Justice which is qualified for the damage known as of public Travaux.

By legal status

In France, the classification of a way in agglomeration increases the policing powers of the mayor (it regulates the modes of priority for example) but makes him also support additional expenditure (dealt with of the expenses of lighting for example). For the user, this situation is materialized by a panel of entry of agglomeration and implies a limitation of speed to 50 km/h or less.

On the contrary, the classification of a way to great circulation subjects the local by-laws of circulation to the agreement of the prefect, representing State. The user profits from a mode of priority materialized by specific panels (AB6, to see external bond) in the form of rhombus.

The expressways are defined in France by the L151-1 articles and following of the code of the road roadway system. It are accessible only in particular places contrary to the ordinary ways to which the residents have access without limitation.

The highways , defined by the L122-1 articles and following of the same code are moreover prohibited to the pedestrians and with certain vehicles (cycles, heavy loads, etc).

The country lanes have the effect of belonging to the private field of the communes. They are not subjected to the obligations of maintenance like the communal ways (public domain).

Road vocabulary

  • the influence is the land and buildings (registers) affected by the manager with a road use; it includes the road itself and its dependences (parking space).

  • the plate is the part of the influence really used by the road (including the slopes). The unutilised grounds are described as forsaken .
  • the Chaussée is the covered part which is intended for circulation. It can be divided into several lanes .
  • the verges and possible the central reservation border the roadways. The safety devices (slides, separators) there are established; they are separated from the roadway by levelled down bands intended to take into account the psychological effect of wall which leads the motorists to deviate some. On fast tracks, the levelled down band of right-hand side is generally widened and covered to constitute a shoulder . The berm is the part of verge which ensures the junction with the ditch or the slope. The central reservation can be stopped in certain places to open circulation on the other way, one speaks about Interruption of the central reservation (ITPC).
    En city, the roadways are bordered of pavements .
  • the tread is measured between safety devices. It thus includes/understands the roadway and the bands levelled down if necessary.
  • Lastly, the platform joins together verges, roadways and central reservation.

Road signs

In order to guide the travellers, a specific indication was constituted. Limited first of all to the terminals, then developed by private individuals (Michelin, the Car club of France), it was then taken of load by the States. It comprises several types of indicators:

  • carriageway markings (painting on the Fitted reflective, devices) or vertical (panels, light signals);
  • static indication (panels, painting) or luminous (fires of dangers, tricolor of crossing);
  • permanent or temporary indication (work, particular occupation of the roadway system, for a demonstration or a cycle race).

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Nomenclature of the control panels

  • French Code of the road roadway system, legislative part and lawful part
  • Site of a patrol craft of highway which explains the trade

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