It’s reviewed that the research progresses of road roughness in the field of automobile engineering and transportation engineering in recent years. Based on the difference of viewport of investigation, three aspects are discussed. First of all is the research of basic theory including the definition of road roughness and the mathematical model of road roughness in power spectrum, the second is the analysis of experiments which include the development of instruments of measurement and the research progresses of test and simulation in road roughness, once more is the application of road roughness in engineering of automobile engineering and transportation engineering. The principle, characteristic and application in engineering of many kinds of road roughness in the field of automobile engineering and transportation engineering are discussed synthetically. In addition, the roughness of Chinese representative road are mentioned which is used to study and design automobile in China. In the end, the prospect of road roughness in the field of automobile engineering and transportation engineering is summarized.