In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

• " certificate of initial fitness " has the meaning given by section 6.

• " certifying officer " means an officer appointed under section 7(1);

• " community bus service " has the meaning given by section 45(8);

• " company " means a body corporate;

• " contract carriage " has the meaning given by section 2;

• " contravention ", in relation to any condition or provision, includes a failure to comply with the condition or provision, and "contravene" shall be construed accordingly;

• " director ", in relation to a company, includes any person who occupies the position of a director, by whatever name called;

• " 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;

• " excursion or tour " means a stage or express carriage service on which the passengers travel together on a journey, with or without breaks, from one or more places to one or more other places and back;

• “ express carriage " has the meaning given by section 2, and "express carriage service" means a service provided by means of one or more express carriages;

• " fares " include sums payable in respect of a contract ticket or a season ticket;

• " international operation " means a passenger transport operation starting or terminating in the United Kingdom and involving an international journey by the vehicle concerned, whether or not any driver leaves or enters the United Kingdom with that vehicle;

• " local authority " means—

  1. a

     in relation to England and Wales, any local authority within the meaning of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 ;

  2. b

     in relation to Scotland, a regional, islands or district council;

• " magistrates' court " and " petty sessions area " have the same meanings as in the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 ;

• " modification " includes addition, omission and alteration, and related expressions shall be construed accordingly;

• " motor vehicle " means a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads ;

• " national operation " means a passenger transport operation wholly within the United Kingdom;

• " official PSV testing station " has the meaning given by section 8(3);

• " operating centre ", in relation to a vehicle, means the base or centre at which the vehicle is normally kept;

• " operator " has the meaning given by section 81;

• " owner ", in relation to a vehicle which is the subject of an agreement for hire, hire-purchase, conditional sale or loan, means the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement, and references to owning a vehicle shall be construed accordingly;

• " prescribed " has the meaning given by section 60(2);

• " PSV operator's licence " means a PSV operator's licence granted under the provisions of Part II of this Act;

• " public service vehicle " has the meaning given by section 1;

• " relevant conviction " means a conviction (other than a spent conviction) of any offence prescribed for the purposes of this Act, or an offence under the law of Northern Ireland, or of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, corresponding to an offence so prescribed;

• " restricted licence " means such a PSV operator's licence as is mentioned in section 13(3);

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

• " road service licence " means a road service licence granted under the provisions of Part III of this Act;

• " stage carriage " has the meaning given by section 2, and stage carriage service " means a service provided by means of one or more stage carriages;

• " standard licence " means a PSV operator's licence which is not a restricted licence ;

• " statutory provision " means a provision contained in an Act or in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the [1978 c. 30.] Interpretation Act 1978 ;

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

• " transport manager ", in relation to a business, means an individual who, either alone or jointly with one or more other persons, has continuous and effective responsibility for the management of the road passenger transport operations of the business;

• " trial area " has the meaning given by section 38.