「路權」為交通科學領域中常見之用語,尤其為道路事故歸責過程中最重要且最常見的歸責依據。在道路事故的歸責判斷中,「路權」具有與法律權利相近似的保障效果,但在法律上,「路權」似乎並不具有「權利」的特性。那麼「路權」真的是一種權利嗎?若路權不是法律上的「權利」,那路權是什麼?依據本文分析,道路交通「路權」並非權利,而僅只是運用了權利的概念,其內涵與保障效果之建立,係基於相對用路人對道路交通法令的遵守之上,且路權之主張僅只在用路人生命、身體、健康或財產等法益,實際發生威脅或受到侵害之時,其概念與價值才得以彰顯。因此,生命、身體與財產才是事故中權利的主體,路權只是一種反射的利益。透過本文對道路交通路權本質的釐清,冀望能助益交通學術及實務領域對於路權概念的正確運用,使相關之事故鑑定與裁判,獲致更公平、更公正的歸責過程。
Right of way (abbreviated as ROW) is a terminology usually used in transportation engineering. People always use ROW as a right to protect road users, especially in traffic accident approval. But, in law, the word of 'right' is not only a position against others, but also a promise to provide protection by public authorities. It happens that ROW seems without these characters. And then the question arises: Is ROW a kind of right? If not. What is it? According to the analysis of this study, it concludes that ROW is not a right given by laws, but a kind of 'reflective right', which is claimed only when people’s life, health, or property is damaged in traffic incident. Therefore, the life, health and property instead of ROW are the principal to be protected in incident by laws. This paper provides a new definition of ROW. It should help in the authentication and judgment in road accidents.