Freeway vs Highway | Difference between Highway and Freeway

If all single or multi-lane public roads are highways then you may want to know firstly, what is a freeway? Secondly, what is Freeway vs Highway? In addition, the difference between highway and freeway.

Freeway vs Highway Definition

Freeway is a subset of a divided highway, only for motor traffic having limited access and with no crossing at grade. In another word, the freeway is a roadway with high traffic volume, fast speed, and more visibility.

This kind of roadway does not serve properties bordering on it. It provides access at only special points or interchanges. It is toll-free, traffic signal-free, and no crossing at a level from other roads or railway lines. Therefore, freeways are safer to travel than highways and also from other roadway systems.

On the other hand, Highway refers to any major and wider public roadway for vehicular travel. This allows the higher volume of traffic to travel at high speed. Highways may have crossings or intersections at a level from other roads, railway lines, and even footpaths on one or both sides.

It may be a single roadway with one or more travel lanes separated by a painted white or yellow line. This may have traffic signs or stop signals (usually traffic signs and stop signals are tried to avoid on highways). It can be a multi-lane roadway. Or maybe two parallel roadways, one in each direction with or without a barrier or median.

Freeway vs Highway Difference

Freeways and Highways, both are public roadways that serve as the primary mean of transportation. Both serve the same purpose but still, road users have to face the difference between highways and freeways.

1. Who Can Access a Freeway vs Highway

The first difference between a highway and a freeway is which vehicle can enter these roadways. In fact, in the United States usually, pedestrians, bicycles, motorized bicycles, and non-motorized traffic are not allowed to enter a freeway.

However, Alaska, Arizona, and some other states allow bicycles and motorized bicycles if there is no suitable alternative road. Whereas there is no restriction for pedestrians, bicycles, motorized bicycles, and non-motorized traffic to enter the highway. which is the main difference between highway vs freeway.

2. How to Access a Freeway vs Highway

The other difference between a highway and a freeway is how to access these roadways. As we know, freeways are controlled access roadways. Therefore, drivers can only enter a freeway by on-ramps or interchanges at certain points. Whereas, you will not find any entrance ramp or interchange on the highway.

3. Median

On the freeway, traffic moving in both directions have a median between them. It may be a grass median, concrete, or barrier. On the other hand, on the highway, there may or may not have a median in between the traffic moving in opposite directions.

4. Maximum Speed Limit on Freeway vs Highway

Another difference between a highway and vs freeway is the difference in maximum speed limit. In the United States, 70 to 80 miles per hour is a common speed limit on freeways. Whereas, the speed limit on the highway is about 55 to 70 miles per hour. Which is 105 to 113 km/h. Therefore, the traffic on the freeway is very fast as compared to the highway.

5. Minimum Speed Limit on Freeway vs Highway

The other difference between a freeway vs highway is that you cannot drive below a certain speed limit on a freeway. Different countries impose different minimum speed limits to increase road safety. Whereas a highway is a combination of slow and fast-moving vehicles. Therefore, you can drive slowly on the highway. But, because of the fast traffic flow, you cannot drive slowly on the freeway.

6. Cross Traffic

There are stop signals, intersections, railway crossings, local traffic crossings, and sometimes pedestrian crossings on the highway. whereas freeways are always traffic signal-free, with no road, rail, or pedestrian crossings to maintain fast traffic flow.

7. How to Exit from Freeway vs Highway

Lastly, drivers can only exit a freeway from the off-ramp or exit interchanges at certain points. Whereas there are no exit interchanges on the highway. You can exit a highway at any local crossing.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway