Local and through traffic

Local traffic refers to vehicles whose destination or point of origin is in the given area. By contrast, through traffic or transit traffic refers to vehicles which are only passing through an area without stopping there.

Road network is typically designed so as to direct the through traffic through dedicated corridors: motorways, primary, secondary or tertiary roads, depending on volume. By contrast, residential, unclassified and service roads are designed primarily for local traffic. Although this is only a rule of thumb, routers may use road classification so as to favor higher-performance roads for motor vehicles, and lower-volume roads for walking and cycling.

Ways with motor_vehicle=destination or access=destination are local traffic ways.