Types of road

Many types of road exist around the world, all of which are thoroughfares which can be used by motorized traffic. Roads are not necessarily available for use by the general public without permission, highways are available to the public, although a toll may be charged. In places the term highway is reserved for high capacity roads, in older English there was a distinction between highways and byways.

Different terms are used in different countries for broadly the same design, although there are differences. For example, freeway USA, motorway UK and autobahn Germany all of which are broadly similar. A road can consist of one or more carriageways.