Home › Textbook › The road belongs to everyone

The road belongs to everyone

The road is not just for cars. On roadways, there are drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, and trams. Each of them has different rights and responsibilities. And each is vulnerable in different ways.

Act 361/2000 Coll. in Section 2 defines who is a participant in road traffic. Once you understand this, it will be much easier for you to grasp the subsequent material.

Explanation

According to the law, a participant in traffic is anyone who directly participates in traffic on roadways. This includes:

Drivers of motor vehicles (cars, motorcycles, buses, trucks)
Drivers of non-motor vehicles (bicycles, scooters)
Pedestrians (including people in wheelchairs)
Passengers (in a bus, tram, car)
Riders on animals
Persons who lead or push a vehicle

Important: A person pushing a bicycle is a PEDESTRIAN, not a driver. But as soon as they get on the bicycle, they become a driver.

Example

Imagine a typical intersection in a city:

1. A personal car is standing in the lane - the driver is a participant in traffic 2. A mother with a stroller is waiting on the sidewalk - she is a participant in traffic (pedestrian) 3. There are 20 people sitting in a bus at the stop - they are all participants (passengers) 4. A cyclist is riding in the bike lane - they are a participant in traffic (driver) 5. A man is pushing a bicycle across the crosswalk - he is a pedestrian, NOT a driver

Note: Passengers in a bus also have responsibilities (e.g., not using the emergency brake unnecessarily, not opening doors while driving). Every participant bears their own responsibility.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes by students in driving school:

1. "Pedestrians are not participants in traffic" - Incorrect. Pedestrians are full-fledged participants with all rights and responsibilities.

2. "Children playing on the sidewalk are not participants" - Incorrect. Children are also participants in traffic.

3. "A person on an electric scooter is a pedestrian" - Incorrect. A rider on an electric scooter is a driver of a vehicle.

4. "A driver does not have to pay attention to pedestrians" - Incorrect. A driver must exercise increased caution towards all vulnerable participants.

Summary

What to remember:

A participant in traffic is anyone on the roadway (driver, pedestrian, passenger, cyclist, rider)
Who leads (pushes) a bicycle = pedestrian. Who rides it = driver.
A rider on an electric scooter = driver
Passengers also have responsibilities (safety, not distracting the driver)
A driver must account for all participants, especially the more vulnerable ones (pedestrians, cyclists, children)

Legal basis: Section 2 of Act 361/2000 Coll.

Explanation

Road Traffic Rules Introduction Road traffic rules in the Czech Republic are not a set of random recommendations. They form a clearly defined system of legal regulations contained in several key laws and implementing regulations. This system ensures road safety and smooth traffic flow by defining the rights and duties of all road users. Basic pillars of the rules (What are they?) Traffic rules are based on three main legal regulations: 1. Act No. 361/2000 Coll., on Road Traffic This is the basic “constitution” for every driver and pedestrian. It regulates fundamental traffic rules (direction of travel, speed, overtaking), driving licences and permits, the penalty points system, and the powers of the Police of the Czech Republic. 2. Act No. 247/2000 Coll., on Acquiring and Improving Professional Competence This act focuses on the technical and training side of driving. It regulates how driving schools operate, how driving tests are conducted, under what conditions a driving licence is obtained, and how professional drivers are trained. 3. Decree No. 294/2015 Coll. This is an implementing regulation to the Road Traffic Act. While the law states that traffic signs must be obeyed, this decree defines in detail what traffic signs and signals look like, where they are placed, and exactly what they mean. How the law works in practice (Hierarchy of rules) The law does not only list rules but also establishes a hierarchy that determines which rule has priority at any given moment. If rules conflict, they are applied in the following order: 1. Instructions of a police officer These have the highest priority and override traffic signs, traffic lights, and general rules. If a police officer signals you to proceed at an intersection, you must go even if the traffic light is red or there is a “Stop, Give Way” sign. 2. Temporary traffic regulation This includes temporary traffic signs, for example at roadworks. These signs are usually placed on red-and-white striped posts and have priority over permanent signs. 3. Local traffic regulation This includes permanent vertical traffic signs and traffic lights. These override road markings (lines on the road surface) and general traffic rules. 4. General traffic regulation These are the rules written directly in the law itself, such as driving on the right-hand side or the general speed limit of 50 km/h in built-up areas. These rules apply whenever they are not modified by a sign or a police officer.

How to remember it

Practical summary:

Before you head out onto the road, be aware that there will be dozens of other participants around you – from truck drivers to small children on the sidewalk. Each of them may behave unpredictably.

What to do in practice:

Check your rearview mirrors every 5–8 seconds
Before every intersection, look out for pedestrians and cyclists
Expect that a pedestrian may enter the roadway even outside of a crosswalk
A cyclist may move slower than you expect – do not overtake them in a curve

What the law says

a) chovat se ohleduplně a ukázněně, aby svým jednáním neohrožoval život, zdraví nebo majetek jiných osob ani svůj vlastní, aby nepoškozoval životní prostředí ani neohrožoval život zvířat, své chování je povinen přizpůsobit zejména stavebnímu a dopravně technickému stavu pozemní komunikace,1) povětrnostním podmínkám, situaci v provozu na pozemních komunikacích, svým schopnostem a svému zdravotnímu stavu,

Section 4 písm. a) of Act No. 361/2000 Coll.

b) řídit se pravidly provozu na pozemních komunikacích upravenými tímto zákonem, pokyny policisty, pokyny osob oprávněných k řízení nebo usměrňování provozu na pozemních komunikacích podle § 75 odst. 5, 8 až 10 a zastavování vozidel podle § 79 odst. 1 a pokyny osob, o nichž to stanoví zvláštní právní předpis,5) vydanými k zajištění bezpečnosti a plynulosti provozu na pozemních komunikacích,

Section 4 písm. b) of Act No. 361/2000 Coll.

c) řídit se světelnými, případně i doprovodnými akustickými signály, dopravními značkami, dopravními zařízeními a zařízeními pro provozní informace.

Section 4 písm. c) of Act No. 361/2000 Coll.

Verbatim text of Act No. 361/2000 Coll., on road traffic, as in force on 1 January 2026. Quoted in Czech — the Czech wording is the binding one.

← Jak je provoz řízen Participants in Traffic →

Check what you remember

Five questions from the official bank. The answer appears only after you choose — try to recall it first, that is what makes learning stick.

Question 1 of 5

If the yellow "Caution!" light signal is flashing intermittently at a junction:

§ 2
Question 2 of 5

Is a horse rider travelling on a road considered a driver?

§ 2
Question 3 of 5

Do the duties and rights of a driver apply to a horse rider travelling on a road?

§ 2
Question 4 of 5

A carter who drives a horse-drawn vehicle is:

§ 2
Question 5 of 5

Is a carter who drives a horse-drawn vehicle considered a driver?

§ 2