Have you ever wondered if a freeway and a highway are the same thing? People tend to use the words interchangeably. In some regions, most roads, especially those with higher speed limits, are referred to by one or the other.

Whether it's your daily commute or a much-needed road trip, you will definitely be using at least one, or even both. Given the usage of the words, they seem like they might refer to the same type of road, but that's not the case. The difference between a highway and a freeway is a small but crucial one.

There’s a key difference between a highway and a freeway.

Highways crisscross the U.S.

“Highway” has a broader definition than “freeway.” A highway is a broad roadway, which usually sports multiple lanes for one direction of traffic. Speed limits are usually higher than surrounding two-lane roads, and access is not strictly controlled by entrance or exit ramps.

Highways can have stoplights, cross-traffic, and even pedestrian walkways in some places. As a result, highways tend to move a little slower than their freeway counterparts.

Sometimes, a highway will refer to a two-lane road, but it is usually a little wider than other roadways. They will usually have wide shoulders and are made to have higher speed limits than smaller roadways.

Highways can be found all over the country, whether four-lane or two-lane. They tend to be more rural, as a general rule, than a freeway. That's not to say the freeways don't traverse rural and remote areas—they absolutely do—but highways tend to allow access to those areas.

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What is a freeway?

MORE: What is the Best Car for Long Commutes?

The

Arizona Department of Transportation

(AZDOT) defines a freeway as a highway with limited and controlled access.

That's right: a freeway is a highway, but not every highway is a freeway.

A freeway will have strictly controlled access via entrance and exit ramps. There will be no cross-traffic, stop lights, or other traffic control on the roadway. Usually, the speed limit is higher than on highways with traffic control.

Freeways connect major cities, and are thoroughfares for trucking, shipping, and traveling. Most freeways have rest areas built alongside so that people traveling can have a quick egress without having to completely exit the road.

Simple rules to keep yourself safe on highways and freeways

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Freeways and highways do have one thing generally in common: they are both very busy roadways, with a lot of traffic to deal with. If you're driving through metro and congested areas, you'll want to keep a few things in mind.

As traffic flow increases, many freeways and some highways will add a third (or even fourth lane) for one direction of traffic. In a three-lane freeway, the right lane should be reserved for exiting and entering the roadway, while the left lane should be for passing only. You should be driving in the middle lane when not exiting or passing. Don't sit in either the far right or far left lane.

DriversEducationUSA.com

gives a few additional tips. Some of them are common sense. Don't ever drive when you are feeling drowsy, and try to avoid driving during adverse conditions.

To enter a freeway, you should be moving at about the speed of traffic when you reach the end of the ramp, but always watch for traffic. When you're on the freeway, you should be looking far in front of you as you drive. If you know what's coming, you can better prepare for it.

Don't tailgate, and don't sit in another person's blind spot. Doing so drastically increases the likelihood of an accident. Stay in the right (or middle lane, if driving on a multi-lane highway) unless you are passing slower traffic.

To help with fuel efficiency, and to help keep yourself from speeding or slowing down too much, use cruise control if you can.

As always, make sure that you are fully insured in case anything happens on the road. Stick with

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Driving Tips