Police have urged beachgoers and motorists to be considerate of each other after video emerged of a confrontation between a driver and holidaymakers who had set up camp along Rainbow Beach.

What you need to know: Check the speed limit. It differs from one beach to the next

Check the speed limit. It differs from one beach to the next All pedestrians have right of way

All pedestrians have right of way Beach four-wheel-drive areas have the same rules as a public road

Beach four-wheel-drive areas have the same rules as a public road Keep off sand dunes except at designated crossing areas

Keep off sand dunes except at designated crossing areas Ensure you have a valid permit

Ensure you have a valid permit Be prepared in case you get bogged — carry appropriate equipment

In the video, a family had set up their towels, gazebo and surfboards across the beach near the water — and when a four-wheel drive attempted to pass through, driver Luke James was told to go around the family.

After a heated exchange, the surfboards were moved and the car drove through.

Mr James said ordinarily people set up away from the water in the soft sand, leaving room for vehicles to drive past.

But he said the group wanted him to drive around them, up the embankment — and given he was towing a jet ski, that wasn't something he was going to do.

"We pay for a permit to drive on the beach so that gives us both right of way," he said.

The post raised heated discussion on Facebook, prompting the question — is it a beach or is it a road?

This four-wheel drive lost the race against the tide. ( Supplied: Rainbow Beach Towing and Roadside Assist )

Beach or road?

The short answer, according to Senior Constable Mick Emery, is it's both.

"It's a gazetted road, and like any other gazetted road in Queensland, pedestrians need to take care when crossing and parents need to take care of their kids," he said.

"On the flipside, those who are driving need to keep in mind that it is a beach, and there needs to be some degree of consideration of that from each side."

A gazetted road is a road that has been listed as a public road, regardless of whether it's tarmac, dirt or sand.

On these roads, normal road rules apply — drive on the left, give way to pedestrians, wear seatbelts, and don't drink drive.

"It's just about everyone being mindful of others," Senior Constable Emery said.

"It's not a reasonable expectation that people can set up on a stretch of beach and block it off, because it's a gazetted beach.

"At the same time, people driving on the beach need to be extremely mindful there could be children playing on the beach who may not hear the vehicle coming, and so a slow speed is recommended."

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 52 seconds 52 s Beach driving a favourite Aussie pastime

How do you know?

Every access point to a beach you can drive on is usually signed saying all road rules apply.

Motorists are encouraged to drive on the harder sand between the waterline and the high tide mark, and to keep off sand dunes to avoid getting bogged.

Drivers should also make sure they have the right equipment, a valid permit, and should reduce tyre pressure when driving on soft sand — but keep it within the manufacturer's specifications.

Drivers are also encouraged to respect the local wildlife and take their rubbish with them.

"Beachgoers can't block the road or put barriers across the road, and drivers should drive around where possible," Senior Constable Emery said.

There are also beaches in the area which are prohibited to vehicles, which are good places for families with young children to go, he added.

"[On the holidays and weekends], we can expect to see an increasing number of people on the beach and people need to be considerate of competing demands over the same space."