"My friends are calling me a fool for buying a license and insurance for my golf cart to operate it across the road. They don't license and insure their golf carts and think I am wasting my money", laments a reader.

Contrary to what his friends might believe, this reader is a wise person. He is protecting himself against civil liability in case of a collision and is following the law.

A golf cart is a motor vehicle as defined in the Motor Vehicle Act. This means that in order to be on a highway the golf cart must be licensed, insured and displaying number plates. If two plates are issued, one must be on the front and one on the rear. In addition, it must weigh less than 815 kg GVW, have at least 3 wheels and may not have more than 4 occupants.

A highway is the area on either side of the roadway center, right up to the property line on both sides.

Golf carts may only be operated to cross a highway from one part of a golf course to another part of the same golf course. There is one exception to this, and that is when the golf cart is operated on an island that is not accessible by a bridge or scheduled ferry service and the highway has a posted speed of 20 km/h or less. If you are lucky enough to live on one of these islands, the local police may issue permits for golf cart operation along the highway and specify limitations and conditions of operation in the permits.

The golf cart must meet the requirements for brakes and mufflers, must have reflectors, a horn, a rear view mirror and turn signals. If operated at night, must be equipped with one or two headlamps at the front and a tail lamp at the rear.