Road Traffic Act, 1933

Definitions.

3.—In this Act—

the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Local Government and Public Health;

the expression “the Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána;

the word “vehicle” includes every kind of carriage, conveyance, or machine, however propelled or drawn, which is constructed or adapted for use on roads or on permanent rails laid on roads, whether such carriage, conveyance, or machine is supported on wheels, rollers, moving track, or sliding runners, and whether such carriage, conveyance, or machine is or is not used or capable of being used for the carriage of persons or of goods, but the said word does not include any carriage or conveyance which is carried and wholly supported by human beings or animals;

the expression “mechanically propelled vehicle” does not include a tramcar or other vehicle running on permanent rails;

the expression “public service vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle used for the carriage of passengers for reward;

the expression “large public service vehicle” means a public service vehicle having seating accommodation for more than six persons exclusive of the driver;

the expression “small public service vehicle” means a public service vehicle which is not a large public service vehicle;

the word “omnibus” means a large public service vehicle which is for the time being used on a definite route for the carriage of passengers who are carried at separate fares and are picked up and set down along such route whether on request or at fixed stopping places;

the word “charabanc” means a large public service vehicle which is for the time being used for the carriage of passengers for reward otherwise than as an omnibus;

the expression “street service vehicle” means a small public service vehicle the driver of which offers in a public place himself and the said vehicle for hire and for that purpose stands or drives such vehicle in a public place;

the expression “private hire vehicle” means a small public service vehicle which is used for the carriage of passengers for reward and is not a street service vehicle;

the expression “pedal bicycle” means a bicycle which is designed and constructed for propulsion solely by the physical exertions of a person or persons seated thereon;

the expression “pedal tricycle” means a tricycle which is designed and constructed for propulsion solely by the physical exertions of a person or persons seated thereon;

the expression “pedal cyclist” means a person riding or having control or management of a pedal bicycle or a pedal tricycle;

the expression “public place” means any street, road, or other place to which the public have access with vehicles whether as of right or by permission and whether subject to or free of charge;

the expression “fire brigade vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle owned and maintained by a local authority for the purpose of extinguishing fires or any purpose incidental thereto or for the conveyance of persons employed for any such purpose by such local authority;

the word “ambulance” means a mechanically propelled vehicle specially designed and constructed for the conveyance of sick or injured persons;

the word “road” means any public road and includes any bridge, pipe, arch, gully, footway, pavement, fence, railing, or wall forming part thereof;

the word “roadway” means that portion of any road which is provided primarily for the use of vehicles;

the word “footway” means that portion of any road which is provided primarily for the use of pedestrians;

the expression “period of summer time” means a period appointed by or under the Summer Time Act, 1925 (No. 8 of 1925), or any enactment amending that Act to be a period of summer time;

the expression “lighting-up hours” means—

(a) in relation to any time which is a period of summer time, the period commencing one hour after sunset on any day and expiring one hour before sunrise on the next day, and

(b) in relation to any time which is not a period of summer time, the period commencing one half-hour after sunset on any day and expiring one half-hour before sunrise on the next day;

the word “driving” when used in relation to a mechanically propelled vehicle includes managing and controlling, and the word “driver” and other cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

the word “owner” when used in relation to a mechanically propelled vehicle which is the subject of a hiring agreement (other than a mere contract for the carriage of persons or goods) or a hire purchase agreement means the person in possession of such vehicle under such agreement;

the expression “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under this Act.