trafikkanter

Trafikkanter is a Swedish term formed from trafik (traffic) and kanter (edges or borders). In everyday and some academic Swedish usage, it refers generally to the lateral edges of the traffic environment—the boundary between usable traffic space and adjacent areas such as the road shoulder, verge, or roadside obstacles. The term is not a standardized technical designation in Swedish road- and traffic engineering, where terms like vägkant (road edge) or vägyta (traffic surface) are more common.

Definition and usage: Trafikkanter is used to describe the lateral limits of the traffic domain on a road or intersection. In practice, it encompasses the edge of the driving lane, the area near the road shoulder, and any physical or visual constraints that define where vehicles can operate. In urban planning and traffic safety commentary, the term can help discuss issues of clearance, edging barriers, and the interaction between motorised traffic and vulnerable road users.

Limitations and notes: Because it is not a formal technical standard, its precise meaning can vary by author and region. In Swedish official nomenclature, highway authorities prefer terms such as vägkant and vägyta when referring to the boundary between pavement and roadside or shoulder.

See also: road edge, shoulder, verge, lane, traffic safety, traffic engineering.