Roads Around The World

In the United States, laws make distinctions between "public roads," which are open to public use, and "private roads," the use of which are privately controlled.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom there is some ambiguity between the terms highway and road. The Highway code details rules for 'road users'. For the purposes of the English law Highways Act 1980, which covers England and Wales (but not Scotland or Northern Ireland), the term "road" is defined to be any length of highway or of any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes. This includes footpaths, bridleways and cycle tracks, and also road and driveways on private land and many car parks. Vehicle Excise Duty (a road use tax) is payable on some vehicles used on the public road.
The definition of a road depends on the definition of a highway, however there is no formal definition for a highway in the relevant Act. A 1985 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. Another legal view is that whereas a highway historically included footpaths, bridleways, driftways etc it now generally means only those ways which allow the movement of motor-vehicles with the term rights of way being used to cover the wider usage.