Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016C00716:clause:4_2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016C00716
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 4 cl 2
Character Range: 26321–28935

2  Application of the Rules and some key concepts
  The application of the Australian Road Rules and some key concepts are explained in Part 2 of the Rules. You will need to understand Part 2 to apply the rules properly.
Roads and road‑related areas
  The Rules apply to vehicles, animals and persons on roads and 'road‑related areas'. 'Road‑related areas' are areas like footpaths, nature strips and parking areas. The Rules generally apply to road‑related areas in the same way as they apply to roads.
  In the Rules, a reference to a 'road' generally includes road‑related areas. If a particular rule does not apply to road‑related areas, or applies only to road‑related areas, this will be stated in the rule.
Drivers and riders
  The Rules are generally expressed to apply to drivers of vehicles, since they are the largest category of road users. A driver is the person driving or otherwise in control of a vehicle. For example, a person steering and pushing a stalled motor vehicle would be in control of the vehicle and be the 'driver'.
  Persons riding, or otherwise in control of, motor bikes or animal‑drawn vehicles, or riding bicycles or animals, are called 'riders', rather than drivers. The Rules generally apply to them in the same way as they apply to drivers.
  In the Rules, a reference to a 'driver' generally includes a rider. If a particular rule does not apply to riders, or applies only to particular kinds of riders, this is stated in the rule.
  The definition of a 'vehicle' (also in Part 2) is very broad and is not exhaustive. It includes, for example, motorised wheelchairs that can travel over 10 kilometres per hour. However, it does not include trains, wheeled recreational devices or wheeled toys. The driving of trains is not covered by the Australian Road Rules. Riders of wheeled recreational devices and wheeled toys are treated as pedestrians.
  Although most of the rules apply to vehicles of all kinds and to both drivers and riders, there are some rules that apply only to particular drivers or riders. For example, the rules in Part 15 apply only to bicycle riders, and the rules in Part 17 apply only to the drivers of trams and public buses.
Pedestrians
  It is not appropriate to apply the Australian Road Rules to persons in control of some kinds of vehicles as if they were drivers of conventional motor vehicles. For this reason, some persons who might otherwise come within the definition of 'driver' are treated as pedestrians. For example, a person pushing a motorised wheelchair is treated as a pedestrian.
  The rules that apply to pedestrians are in Part 14.