Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, section 142

General interpretation of Act

Part X General and Supplementary Provisions

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

  • “bridge authority” means the authority or person responsible for the maintenance of a bridge;

  • “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;

  • [F770 “credit card” and “debit card” have the meanings given by section 35A(6) of this Act ; F770]

  • “designation order” means an order under section 45 of this Act (including any order so made by virtue of section 50(1) of this Act ) and “designated parking place” means a parking place designated by a designation order;

  • M49 “disabled person’s badge” means any badge issued, or having effect as if issued, under any regulations for the time being in force under section 21 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 ;

  • “disabled person’s vehicle” means a vehicle lawfully displaying a disabled person’s badge;

  • “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” and “driving” shall be construed accordingly;

  • “excess charge” has the meaning assigned to it by section 46(1) of this Act ;

  • “experimental traffic order” has the meaning assigned to it by section 9(1) of this Act ;

  • except in section 71(2) of this Act , “footpath” means a way over which the public has a right of way on foot only;

  • [F771 “GLA road” (subject to subsection (4) below) has the same meaning as in the M50 Highways Act 1980 (see sections 329(1) and 14D(1) of that Act); F771]

  • [F771 “GLA side road” shall be construed in accordance with section 124A(9) of this Act ; F771]

  • F772 ...

  • “initial charge” has the meaning assigned to it by section 46(1) of this Act ;

  • F772 ...

  • F772 ...

  • M51 “magistrates’ court” [F773 has the same meaning F773] as in the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 ;

  • F774 ...

  • [F775 “national authority” —

    (a)

    in relation to a function so far as exercisable within devolved competence, within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998, means the Scottish Ministers;

    (aa)

    [F776 in relation to Wales, means the Welsh Ministers;F776]

    (b)

    otherwise, means the Secretary of StateF775]

  • subject to section 111(3) and (4) of, and paragraph 11(2) and (3) of Schedule 12 to, this Act, “owner”, in relation to a vehicle which is subject to a hiring agreement or hire-purchase agreement, means the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement;

  • [F777 “off-street parking accommodation” means parking accommodation for motor vehicles off the highway or, in Scotland, off the road; F777]

  • “parking device” has the meaning assigned to it by [F778 section 35(3B) or, as the case may be, F778] section 51(4) of this Act ;

  • “parking meter” has the meaning assigned to it by section 46(2)(a) of this Act ;

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

  • [F779 “public road” has the same meaning as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 ; F779]

  • M52 “public service vehicle” [F780 has the same meaning F780] as in the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 ;

  • [F781 “restricted byway” has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 ; F781]

  • F782 “road”—

    (a)

    in England and Wales, means any length of highway or of any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes, and

    (b)

    in Scotland, has the same meaning as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984;

  • F772 ...

  • [F783 “special road”, in England and Wales, has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980 , and in Scotland has the same meaning as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 ; F783]

  • “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);

  • [F784 “strategic highways company” means a company appointed under section 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015 ; F784]

  • “street parking place” and “off-street parking place” refer respectively to parking places on land which does, and on land which does not, form part of a road;

  • [F785 “traffic authority” and “local traffic authority” have the meaning given by section 121A of this Act ; F785]

  • “traffic sign” has the meaning assigned to it by section 64(1) of this Act ; and

  • “traffic regulation order” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1 of this Act .

  • [F771 “trunk road” has the same meaning as in the M53 Highways Act 1980 (see section 329(1) of that Act ) F771]

[F786 (1A)In this Act—

(a)any reference to a county shall be construed in relation to Wales as including a reference to a county borough;

(b)any reference to a county council shall be construed in relation to Wales as including a reference to a county borough council; and

(c)section 17(4) and (5) of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (references to counties and districts to be construed generally in relation to Wales as references to counties and county boroughs) shall not apply.F786]

(2)Any reference in this Act to a tricycle shall be construed as including a reference to a cycle which is not a motor vehicle and has 4 or more wheels.

(3)References in this Act to a class of vehicles or traffic (other than the references in section 17) shall be construed as references to a class defined or described by reference to any characteristics of the vehicles or traffic or to any other circumstances whatsoever.

[F787 (4) Any reference in this Act to a dfnGLA road includes a reference to a dfnGLA side road. F787]

Definitions used in section 142 3

motor vehicle

(1) In this Act, subject to section 20 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (which makes special provision with respect to invalid carriages) , “motor vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads, and “trailer” means a vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle.

Defined in s.136(1) · see it in the full Act

(1) In this Act, subject to section 20 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (which makes special provision with respect to invalid carriages) , “motor vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads, and “trailer” means a vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle.

Defined in s.136(1) · see it in the full Act
hiring agreement

6 In paragraph 2 above “statement of liability”, “hiring agreement” and “vehicle-hire firm” have the same meanings as in section 109 of this Act .

Defined in Sch.8 para.6 · see it in the full Act
prescribed

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under this section;

Defined in s.43(14) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 142 7

Dawood, R (On the Application Of) v Parking & Traffic Appeals Service & Anor

[2009] EWCA Civ 1411 · 27 November 2009Interprets

The court interprets section 142 as extending the parking restriction to any length of highway or any other road to which the public has access. The disjunctive wording does not impose a rigid sequential inquiry, and public access to the pavement may suffice even where the land is privately owned (see paras [3]-[6]).

Oxfordshire County Council, R (on the application of) v The Bus Lane Adjudicator

[2010] EWHC 894 (Admin) · 26 April 2010Interprets

Interprets “road” as including any length of highway or other road to which the public has access. This supported the conclusion that no minimum length was required for the designated area to qualify. (see paras [13], [51]) Interprets “class of vehicles or traffic” as including classes defined by any characteristics or any other circumstances whatsoever. The phrase was broad enough to include the purpose or activity for which a vehicle was being used. (see paras [19], [56]-[59])

Daniel Adams v North Somerset Council

[2026] EWHC 1883 (Admin) · 23 July 2026Defines

The court relied on section 142 in explaining that a designation order concerned the designation of parking places on highways. (see para [8])

2 more judgments, and what each says about section 142, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

25 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F770Definition inserted by Parking Act 1989 (c. 16, SIF 107:1), s. 4, Sch. para. 8(a)
  2. F771S. 142(1): definitions of “GLA road", “GLA sideroad" and “trunk road" in s. 142(1) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 292(3) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2, Sch.
  3. F772S. 142(1): definition of "highway authority", "local highway authority", "local roads authority" and "roads authority" omitted (1.11.1991) by virtue of New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 78(2); which is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3, Sch.
  4. F773Words in the definition of “magistrates' court" in s. 142(1) substituted (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 76(2), 108(3)(c), Sch. 10 para. 38 (with s. 107, Sch. 14 para. 7(2))
  5. F774Words in s. 142(1) omitted (23.5.2016) by virtue of Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), s. 72(7), Sch. 2 para. 13
  6. F775Words in s. 142(1) inserted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 41(18), 72(7) (with Sch. 2 paras. 34(2), 35(2))
  7. F776Words in s. 142(1) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 26(8), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(f)
  8. F777S. 142(1): definition of "off-street parking accommodation" inserted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 78(3); which insertion is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3, Sch.
  9. F778S. 142(1): definition inserted by Parking Act 1989 (c. 16, SIF 107:1), s. 4, Sch. para. 8(b)
  10. F779S. 142(1): definition inserted (S.) by Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54, SIF 108), s. 128(1), Sch. 9 para. 93(44)(c)
  11. F780S. 142(1): words substituted by Transport Act 1985 (c. 67, SIF 126), s. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 15(4)
  12. F781S. 142(1): definition of "restricted byway" inserted (2.5.2006 for E., 11.5.2006 for W.) by The Restricted Byways (Application and Consequential Amendment of Provisions) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1177), regs. 1(2)(4), 2(2), Sch. Pt. 1; S.I. 2006/1172; S.I. 2006/1279
  13. F782S. 142(1): definition of "road" substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 78(4); which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3, Sch.
  14. F783S. 142(1): definition of "special road" substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 78(5); which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3, Sch.
  15. F784S. 142(1): definition of “strategic highways company” inserted (5.3.2015) by Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), s. 57(1), Sch. 1 para. 99; S.I. 2015/481, reg. 2(a)
  16. F785S. 142(1): definition of "traffic authority" and "local traffic authority" inserted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 78(6); which insertion is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3, Sch.
  17. F786S. 142(1A) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 22(1), Sch. 7 Pt. II para. 38(10) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 22(3)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 3, Sch. 1
  18. F787S. 142(4) added (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 292(4) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2, Sch.

Modifications

  1. C307S. 142 applied (2.5.2006 for E., 11.5.2006 for W.) by The Restricted Byways (Application and Consequential Amendment of Provisions) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1177), regs. 1(2)(4), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1; S.I. 2006/1172; S.I. 2006/1279
  2. C308S. 142 modified (S.) (3.5.2017) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Angus Council) Designation Order 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/79), arts. 1, 5, sch. 3 para. 7

Marginal citations

  1. M491970 c. 44 (81:3).
  2. M501980 c. 66.
  3. M511980 c. 43 (82).
  4. M521981 c. 14 (107:1).
  5. M531980 c. 66.