Drinking while riding a segway will soon be illegal in Canberra

Road safety minister Shane Rattenbury moved to extend the ACT road rules to apply to the drivers of trams as well as segway riders.

The amendments would require tram drivers to hold a full Australian car licence and would allow police to breath-test them or fine them for speeding.

Like other passenger-vehicle drivers, tram drivers would have to adhere to a zero blood alcohol level when operating the vehicle.

Light rail drivers would be exempt from having their vehicle seized as well as the metre-matters rule for cyclists, although cyclists would still be protected by a requirement in the Australian road rules for tram drivers to maintain a "sufficient distance" from other road users.

The bill would make it a crime to take a light rail vehicle or bus for a joy-ride.

The changes would also apply to heavy vehicles. Current rules only apply to cars and motorbikes.

Anyone involved in an accident with a light rail vehicle would be covered by the ACT's Compulsory Third Party insurance Scheme.

But the bill also outlaws drinking booze while riding a segway and makes it a crime to ride a segway under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

It comes off the back of the legalisation of the use of segways beyond Lake Burley Griffin on ACT roads and paths last December.

Segways are now "generally treated as pedestrians with some additional requirements placed on them", such as using a bell and a helmet, Mr Rattenbury said at the time.

Segways also have a speed limit of 20km/h.

Mr Rattenbury told the assembly on Thursday the changes were "consistent with the treatment of drivers and operators of other public transport modes in the ACT".

More light rail legislation will be introduced later in the year to allow the collection of fares and give powers to prevent fare evasion.

The bill will be debated when the assembly next sits.