► New supercar driving licence coming to Australia
► South Australia will require new category
► Applies to cars over 370bhp per tonne
Drivers of powerful sports cars in one Australian state will need to attain a new supercar driving licence class after the government passed new rules to clamp down on dangerous driving.
South Australia is planning a new licence category for drivers of any vehicle producing more than 276kW per tonne (370bhp per tonne). It’s chosen power-to-weight ratio to cover the broadest possible range of sports cars, from supercars to flyweight trackday specials.
The restrictions will apply to around 200 models, according to the local government. It has yet to define how drivers qualify for the new super licence, but the scheme is expected to launch by the end of 2024.
Why South Australia is cracking down on powerful cars
It comes as part of a crackdown, which makes it an offence for a driver to disable safety systems such as stability control on an ‘ultra-high-powered vehicle.’
The amendments were passed by the state parliament in response to the death of a 15-year-old pedestrian who was hit by a Lamborghini in Adelaide in 2019. The driver had deactivated traction control.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher said: ‘These reforms will ensure people who drive ultra high-powered vehicles take greater responsibility for their actions while making sure that authorities have the power to prosecute those who flout our road laws and put others’ lives at risk.’