Road Traffic Act 1972

196 General interpretation provisions

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, that is to say—

• " bridleway " means a way over which the public have the following, but no other, rights of way, that is to say, 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, tricycle, or cycle having four or more wheels, not being in any case a motor vehicle;

• except for the purposes of section 1, "driver", where a separate person acts as steersman of a motor vehicle, includes that person as well as any other person engaged in the driving of the vehicle, and " drive " shall be construed accordingly;

• " footpath " 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 ;

• " goods vehicle test certificate " has the meaning assigned to it by section 45(1) of this Act;

• " highway authority " means—

  (a)

  for the purposes of the application of this Act to England or Wales, in relation to a road other than a trunk road, the authority (being either the council of a county, the council of a county borough, the council of a non-county borough or an urban district, the Common Council of the City of London, the council of a London borough or the Greater London Council) which is responsible for the maintenance of the road, and in relation to a trunk road, the Secretary of State;

  (b)

  for the purposes of the application of this Act to Scotland, in relation to a road other than a trunk road, a county council or the town council of a burgh charged with the maintenance and management of any of the highways therein, and, in relation to a trunk road, the Secretary of State;

• " magistrates' court " and " petty sessions area " have the same meanings as in the [1952 c. 55.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 ;

• " 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;

• " plating certificate " has the meaning assigned to it by section 45(1) of this Act;

• " prescribed " means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

• " road " means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;

• " 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);

• " test certificate " has the meaning assigned to it by section 43(2) of this Act;

• " traffic sign " has the meaning assigned to it by section 54(1) of the [1967 c. 76.] Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 ;

• " tramcar " includes any carriage used on any road by virtue of an order made under the [1896 c. 48.] Light Railways Act 1896;

• " trolley vehicle " means a mechanically propelled vehicle adapted for use upon roads without rails and moved by power transmitted thereto from some external source.

(2) References in this Act to a class of vehicles shall be construed as references to a class defined by reference to any characteristics of the vehicles or to any other circumstances whatsoever.

(3) References in this Act to any enactment shall be construed, except where the context otherwise requires, as references to that enactment as amended by or under any subsequent enactment.