Editing Road (section)

==Definitions==
Historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal construction or some maintenance.<ref name="Ways_of_the_World"/>

The [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD) defines a road as "a line of communication (travelled way) using a stabilized base other than rails or air strips open to public traffic, primarily for the use of road motor vehicles running on their own wheels", which includes "bridges, tunnels, supporting structures, junctions, crossings, interchanges, and toll roads, but not cycle paths".<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=4005 |publisher= OECD |title= Glossary of Statistical Terms |date= 2004-02-26 |access-date= 2007-07-17}}</ref>

The [[Eurostat]], [[International Transport Forum|ITF]] and [[UNECE]] ''Glossary for Transport Statistics Illustrated'' defines a road as a "Line of communication (traveled way) open to public traffic, primarily for the use of road motor vehicles, using a stabilized base other than rails or air strips. [...] Included are paved roads and other roads with a stabilized base, e.g. gravel roads. Roads also cover streets, bridges, tunnels, supporting structures, junctions, crossings and interchanges. Toll roads are also included. Excluded are dedicated cycle lanes."<ref name="unece.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/main/wp6/pdfdocs/glossen4.pdf|title=Illustrated Glossary for Transport Statistics|publisher=International Transport Forum|access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref>

The 1968 [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]] defines a road as the entire surface of any way or street open to public traffic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/conventn/crt1968e.pdf|title=Road Traffic Convention 1968|website=unece.org|access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref>

In urban areas roads may diverge through a city or village and be named as streets, serving a dual function as urban space [[easement]] and route.<ref name="difference_between_road_and_street">{{cite web |title= What is the difference between a road and a street? |work= Word FAQ |publisher= Dictionary.com (Lexico Publishing Group, LLC) |year= 2007 |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/d01.html |access-date= 2007-03-24 }}</ref> Modern roads are normally smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy [[travel]].<ref name="RoadInfrastructureStrategicFrameworkforSouthAfrica">{{cite web |title=Road Infrastructure Strategic Framework for South Africa; A Discussion Document |publisher=National Department of Transport (South Africa) |url=http://www.transport.gov.za/library/docs/rifsa/infor.html |access-date=2007-03-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927063243/http://www.transport.gov.za/library/docs/rifsa/infor.html |archive-date=2007-09-27 }}</ref>

===Australia===
{{See also|Highways in Australia}}
Part 2, Division 1, clauses 11–13 of the National Transport Commission Regulations 2006 defines a road in Australia as 'an area that is open to or used by the public and is developed for, or has as one of its main uses, the driving or riding of motor vehicles.'<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2016C00716/Html/Text|title=National Transport Commission (Road Transport Legislation - Australian Road Rules) Regulations 2006|last=Infrastructure|website=legislation.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref>

Further, it defines a shoulder (typical an area of the road outside the edge line, or the curb) and a road-related area which includes green areas separating roads, areas designated for cyclists and areas generally accessible to the public for driving, riding or parking vehicles.

===New Zealand===
In New Zealand, the definition of a road is broad in common law<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1998/0110/latest/DLM433613.html|title=Land Transport Act 1998 No 110 (as at 29 October 2019), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation|website=legislation.govt.nz|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref> where the statutory definition includes areas the public has access to, by right or not.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/what-is-a-road/what-is-a-road.html|title=What Is a road? {{!}} NZ Transport Agency|website=nzta.govt.nz|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref> Beaches, publicly accessible car parks and yards (even if privately owned), river beds, road shoulders (verges), wharves and bridges are included.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.drivingtests.co.nz/roadcode-questions/car/core/whats-the-legal-definition-of-a-road/|title=What is the legal definition of a road?|website=drivingtests.co.nz|language=en|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref> However, the definition of a road for insurance purposes may be restricted to reduce risk.

===United Kingdom===
[[File:Cycle_lane_and_the_A74_at_Mount_Vernon_(geograph_7756232).jpg|thumb|Pavements and cycle lanes form part of the road.]]
In the United Kingdom ''[[The Highway Code]]'' details rules for "road users", but there is some ambiguity between the terms ''highway'' and ''road''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-4-the-road-user-and-the-law|title=Annex 4. The road user and the law - The Highway Code - Guidance - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk}}</ref> For the purposes of the [[English law]], [[Highways Act 1980]], which covers [[England and Wales]] but not [[Scotland]] or [[Northern Ireland]], road is "any length of highway or of any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/27/section/142|title=Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 – 142 General interpretation of Act |work=Legislation|quote="road" – (a) in England and Wales, means any length of highway or of any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes, and (b) in Scotland, has the same meaning as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984}}</ref> This includes footpaths, bridleways and cycle tracks, and also road and driveways on private land and many car parks.<ref name="Direct">{{cite web|url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069869|title=The road user and the law|quote=Most of the provisions apply on all roads throughout Great Britain, although there are some exceptions.}}</ref> [[Vehicle Excise Duty]], a [[Road tax|road use tax]], is payable on some vehicles used on the public road.<ref name="Direct" />

The definition of a road depends on the definition of a highway; there is no formal definition for a highway in the relevant Act. A 1984 ruling said "the land over which a public right of way exists is known as a highway; and although most highways have been made up into roads, and most easements of way exist over footpaths, the presence or absence of a made road has nothing to do with the distinction.<ref>Reference listed says 1984, This description is used in several rules going back to at least 1975, The law of real property; Stevens, 1975; Authors – Robert Megarry, Sir Robert Edgar Megarry, Sir William Wade</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrothgar.co.uk/WebCases/hol/reports/07/44.htm|title=Judgment – Director of Public Prosecutions v. Jones and Another (On Appeal from a Divisional Court of the Queen's Bench Division)|quote=The land over which a public right of way exists is known as a highway; and although most highways have been made up into roads, and most easements of way exist over footpaths, the presence or absence of a made road has nothing to do with the distinction. There may be a highway over a footpath, while a well made road may be subject only to an easement of way, or may exist only for the landowner's benefit and be subject to no easement at all|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403093123/http://www.hrothgar.co.uk/WebCases/hol/reports/07/44.htm|archive-date=2010-04-03}}</ref> Another legal view is that while a highway historically included [[footpath]]s, [[bridleway]]s, driftways, etc., it can now be used to mean those ways that allow the movement of [[motor vehicles]], and the term ''[[Right-of-way (property access)|rights of way]]'' can be used to cover the wider usage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4-5.co.uk/practiceareas/index.cfm?id=486|title=Local government law – Highway law |quote=Historically, a highway comprehended any path in which members of the public had the right to pass and re-pass without let or hindrance. The term embraced footpaths, bridleways, driftways and so forth. The advent of the motor vehicle and its peculiar requirements has seen increasing distinctions between paths over which walkers and riders have a right of way and those ways that are predominantly used by motor vehicles. The former may be usefully termed "rights of way" (and are the subject of a separate entry in this web) and the latter may be termed "highways."}}</ref>

===United States===
In the United States, laws distinguish between ''public roads'', which are open to public use,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Leonard |first1=M Brent. |title=The Public Nature of Indian Reservation Roads |journal=American Indian Law Journal |date=April 2017 |issue=1 |page=40 |url=https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=ailj |access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref> and ''private roads'', which are privately controlled.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Levinson |first1=David |title=Street smart : competition, entrepreneurship, and the future of roads |date=2006 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |location=New Brunswick, N.J. |isbn=9781315130330 |page=80}}</ref>