Road Traffic Act 1988

192General interpretation of Act

(1)In this Act—

• “bridleway” means a way over which the public have the following, but no other, rights of way: a right of way on foot and a right of way on horseback or leading a horse, with or without a right to drive animals of any description along the way,

• “carriage of goods” includes the haulage of goods,

• “cycle” means a bicycle, a tricycle, or a cycle having four or more wheels, not being in any case a motor vehicle,

• “driver”, where a separate person acts as a steersman of a motor vehicle, includes (except for the purposes of section 1 of this Act) that person as well as any other person engaged in the driving of the vehicle, and “drive” is to be interpreted accordingly,

• “footpath”, in relation to England and Wales, means a way over which the public have a right of way on foot only,

• “goods” includes goods or burden of any description,

• “goods vehicle” means a motor vehicle constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of goods, or a trailer so constructed or adapted,

• “highway authority”, in relation to England and Wales, means—

  (a)

  in relation to a road other than a trunk road, the authority (being either the council of a county, metropolitan district or London borough or the Common Council of the City of London) which is responsible for the maintenance of the road, and

  (b)

  in relation to a trunk road, the Secretary of State,

• “international road haulage permit” means a licence, permit, authorisation or other document issued in pursuance of a Community instrument relating to the carriage of goods by road between member States or an international agreement to which the United Kingdom is a party and which relates to the international carriage of goods by road,

• “owner”, in relation to a vehicle which is the subject of a hiring agreement or hire-purchase agreement, means the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement,

• “petty sessions area” has the same meaning as in the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980,

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,

• “road”, in relation to England and Wales, means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes,

• “the Road Traffic Acts” means the [1988 c. 53.] Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, the [1988 c. 54.] Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (so far as it reproduces the effect of provisions repealed by that Act) and this Act,

• “statutory”, in relation to any prohibition, restriction, requirement or provision, means contained in, or having effect under, any enactment (including any enactment contained in this Act),

• “the Traffic Acts” means the Road Traffic Acts and the [1984 c. 27.] Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984,

• “traffic sign” has the meaning given by section 64(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984,

• “tramcar” includes any carriage used on any road by virtue of an order under the [1896 c. 48.] Light Railways Act 1896, and

• “trolley vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle adapted for use on roads without rails and moved by power transmitted to it from some external source.

(2)In this Act—

• “carriageway”

• “footway”

• “local roads authority”

• “public road”

• “road”

• “roads authority”

• “special road” and

• “trunk road”,

in relation to Scotland, have the same meanings as in the [1984 c. 54.] Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, and “footpath”, in relation to Scotland, means a way over which the public have a right of way on foot only (whether or not associated with a carriageway).

(3)References in this Act to a class of vehicles are to be interpreted as references to a class defined or described by reference to any characteristics of the vehicles or to any other circumstances whatsoever.