I don't care if enemies are on the roads, but I certainly don't need guards telling me to stay on them because they're suppose to be safer, when they weren't in Oblivion.

No.

Am I the only one thinking that they were scripted to tell you to stay on the roads even though the roads were unsafe by bethesda for some untold reason? (probably, "to make things more interesting" or something along those lines)

THIS!

Yeah for the head of a vast and powerful empire cyrodil seemed to be mainly controlled by bandits. I want the roads to feel more alive, with merchants and interesting random encounters rather than just levelled monsters around each bend

I am not sure. I didn't really find their prominence on the imperial highways very troubling, perhaps because i didn't felt i was under attack constantly. It was actually possible to walk around for quite some time without ever seing an enemy, atleast compared to many other games. Still, it didn't really make sense that you was more likely to be attacked on the highways than in the forest... well alright, by highwaymen perhaps, but wolves? So yes i guess it would be nice with a little more attention to that kind of details.

What I really hated was how random NPCs can die while traveling all because the monsters are all leveled up in Oblivion. The roads should definitely be largely safe, especially for NPCs. I don't want all the NPCs dying out just because I'm exploring!

I would like it if there were less animals around roads, but many more away from the roads. Bandits and such would chill around the sides, attacking travelers (you and generic npcs) and guards, guards should also have patrols that differ in sizes depending on distance from their native town and that of enemy holds (Closer to town gets you small units of patrols, away gets you lone horseman).

More NPCs, less wolves and magical beasts on the road. It was way more preferrable to run through forest, because it was rare to run into a troll. But on roads I could be sure that when I get off my horse, there will be dozen wolves right behind me trying to eat the horse. Really unimmersive. <-Magic Word.

As someone who almost never uses fast travel, I can only look at the scenery as I run down the road so many times before I become bored out of my mind. Enemies on the road broke up the monotony of the long journeys.

needs more enemies and travelers a few traveling merchants as well