Are ring roads, circulation roads, access roads, driveways, and fire lanes on private properties such as shopping malls included in the definition of “private roads open to public travel”?
Definition 159 in Section 1A.13 defines “Private Road Open to Public Travel” as including “roads within shopping centers” without specifying certain types of such roads. The terms “ring road,” “circulation road,” “access road,” “driveway,” and “fire lane” are in common use and have general understanding in the commercial development industry but have not been precisely defined for regulatory purposes such as the MUTCD. Individual commercial developments and the private roads within them exhibit a very wide variety of physical conditions and layout designs. Thus, it is not possible at this time to provide any precise definitions or clarifications beyond the language already included in the Code of Federal Regulations and the MUTCD.
