Portal:Roads/Intro

A road is an identifiable route, way or path between two or more places. Roads are typically smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel; though they need not be, and historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal construction or maintenance. In urban areas roads may pass through a city or village and be named as streets, serving a dual function as urban space easement and route. Economics and society depend heavily on efficient roads. In the European Union (EU) 44% of all goods are moved by trucks over roads and 85% of all persons are transported by cars, buses or coaches on roads.

Various types of road are in use around the world. Roads range in size from private driveways, to the stereotypical two-lane highway, to high capacity dual carriageway routes, such as freeways and motorways. The names associated with a particular type of road vary around the world, and many names are partially equivalent but not exactly equivalent to each other. As a result, the name given to a road in one country could apply to a different type of road in another country. Details for each road type are covered in the specific articles about each type of road.

Many countries generally have an organized system of national roads usually designated by a route number or letter. These designations are generally displayed along the route by means of a highway shield; each system has its own unique shield design that will allow quick identification to which system the route belongs. Some countries additionally have separate road systems coordinated and maintained by a subnational entity, such as a state or province.