Many new vehicles and devices, such as go-peds and limited-speed vehicles and the "Human Transporters" (i.e., SegwayTM), fall within the definition of a motor vehicle in Ontario's Highway Traffic Act (HTA). The HTA requires motor vehicles to be registered, have licence plates, and the operator to have a valid driver's licence and appropriate insurance. Anyone caught operating one of these vehicles/devices on Ontario's roads without complying with these requirements could face charges for driving an unlicensed and uninsured motor vehicle.
Also, certain vehicles/devices such as go-peds and pocket bikes cannot operate on public roads in Ontario because they do not meet:
- Provincial equipment safety standards for motor vehicles, such as standards regulating lighting, braking, seat belts, etc.
- Federal standards for motor vehicles used on public roads.
The province continues to review both existing and new vehicle types to determine whether they fit into the HTA or if a new vehicle definition is required. Road safety will be a key consideration in determining which new vehicles or devices may operate on Ontario's roads.