Straßenkategorie

Straßenkategorie is a classification system used to organize public roads according to their function, traffic importance and administrative responsibility. The categorization serves planning, funding, maintenance and signage, providing a common framework for how roads are designed and managed within a country’s transport network.

In Germany, the common categories are Autobahnen (motorways), Bundesstraßen (federal roads), Landesstraßen (state roads), Kreisstraßen (district roads) and Gemeindestraßen (municipal roads). Each category reflects the road’s role in national and regional mobility as well as which level of government is responsible for planning, construction and upkeep. Autobahnen and Bundesstraßen typically handle long-distance and high-capacity traffic, while Landes-, Kreis- and Gemeindestraßen serve regional and local connections.

The classification emerges from functional criteria such as traffic volume, connectivity, access control and design standards. It influences engineering guidelines, funding allocation and asset management. In practice, the Straßenkategorie guides decisions on route planning, speed limits in accordance with applicable regulations and the level of service expected from a given road.

Signage and numbering in Germany follow the category system to varying degrees: Autobahnen use the letter A with numbers, Bundesstraßen use B, Landesstraßen L and Kreisstraßen K. Municipal roads are usually identified within local authorities, and their formal numbering may differ by state or municipality. The concept of Straßenkategorie is also used in other German-speaking countries with country-specific terminology and classifications.