| Term | Explanation
|
| Built-up roads | Roads that have a speed limit of 40 mph or less
|
| Non Built-up roads | Roads that have a speed limit in excess of 40 mph
|
| Principal Roads | Local Authority owned and maintained 'A' roads. In general, they carry less traffic than all purpose A roads owned and maintained by central government.
|
| Non-principal roads | Local Authority owned and maintained B, C and unclassified roads
|
| Unclassified roads | Minor roads which are not designated as classified roads and which are owned and maintained by a local highway authority. Some 60 per cent of the local authority network is unclassified.
|
| Trunk roads | Motorways and all purpose trunk roads owned by central government and for which the Highways Agency has responsibility for maintenance and operation. These are strategic roads with a high proportion of long distance traffic although some trunk roads may also have lengths, with the same number, designated as an 'A' Principal road, where traffic is predominantly local in nature.
|
| Motorway | A particular type of road with restricted use carrying predominantly long-distance traffic. Most motorways are the responsibility of the Highways Agency but there are some short lengths of local authority motorways
|
