التصنيفات العالمية للطرق البرية و تطبيقاتها في المملكة العربية السعودية : دراسة في جغرافية النقل

Abstract EN

Developed countries classify roads and streets into different types and classes with the aim of facilitating management processing and control of traffic flow, so that no overlapping between road functions and policies managements & operations of roads.

Moreover, classifications of roads facilitates communications between specialists in transportation (Planers, Economics, Geographers, Engineers, and Administrators) and users.

There are unlimited number of road classifications, yet the most two important classifications are: Jurisdictional Classification and Functional Classification.

The latter is more important for maintenance and management of projects, budgeting, as well as producing public and private maps.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia applies a system of classification that compatible with American Highway Classification.

Yet, within Saudi Arabia there is no compatibility between Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs in regards to roads classification.

This incompatibility generates confusion as well as overlapping in management and planning process.

When concepts and notions are standardized in different transportation realms in Saudi Arabia, the mission of managing roads and traffic planning would be simple and smooth.

This is a very important factor in managing, maintaining, and budgeting process and producing public and private maps as well.

This paper presents western and oriental countries practices in road classifications and names.

The aim is to bridge the gab between organizations that are related to transportation matters.

Also, this paper presents road classification in Saudi Arabia and how it is comply with international classifications.