Who Counts as a Road User - and Why That Framing Matters
Last reviewed: 2026 · Driviology Road Safety Education Team
Quick Answer
A road user is anyone using the road space - drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders alike - and thinking in these terms helps put everyone on more equal footing rather than framing the road as belonging primarily to cars.
The word "driver" naturally centres cars; the broader term "road user" is a reminder of just how many different people actually share that same space.
A Broader Category Than "Driver"
Cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders are all road users too, even though they are easy to overlook when planning is framed only around cars, as our guide to a fair road experience discusses.
Why the Framing Changes Behaviour
Thinking of everyone nearby as a fellow road user, rather than an obstacle, tends to encourage more patience and more predictable, considerate driving.
Awareness of Other Road Users
Recognizing the full range of road users around you feeds directly into stronger awareness of your surroundings as you drive.