Public road

A public road is a road that is open to common use by the general population.

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In the United States, the majority of paved roads are public, and traffic laws apply to them, for instance:

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• speed limits
• drunk driving laws
• depending on the state, bicycles and pedestrians cannot be banned unless the road is limited access

Public roads can be set aside in several ways:

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• common law, due to being used by the public for a certain amount of time with no obstruction
• dedication by plat
• easement or deed to the applicable jurisdiction
 
Public road: See also ►