The majority of motorists are in support of new driving licence changes which would aim to make roads safer and slash the number of vehicle-related accidents.
New data has found that 54 per cent of Britons think drivers should take a special test for high-performance vehicles, noting that it would reduce car crash rates.
A further four in 10 drivers believe rules should be introduced to make those cars available only to people who have the skills to drive them.
Some also believe that it would reduce car insurance costs for high-performance vehicles, with 23 per cent in favour of these measures.
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The law changes could impact owners of high-performance vehicles in South Australia
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Such measures are already used in Australia, with new rules set to be introduced later this year for “Ultra-High Powered Vehicles”.
From December 1, 2024, motorists of UHPVs in the state of South Australia will need to pass an online course in order to continue to drive their vehicles.
These vehicles are defined as having a gross weight of 4.5 tonnes and a power-to-weight ratio of 276 kW per tonne or more, which equates to 370 bhp/tonne.
Drivers are required to know these new rules and whether their vehicles fit the requirements or they could face a fine of AU$2,500 (£1,282).
The introduction of these rules stems from a tragic case where a 15-year-old girl from Adelaide was struck and killed by a Lamborghini Huracan five years ago.
Commenting on the data, Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said the public feels strongly about these rules, pointing to the measures set to be introduced in South Australia.
He added: “Certainly, most people have probably seen a high-performance model of this type used irresponsibly and, when drivers lose control of a vehicle with that amount of power, things can go wrong very badly, very quickly.”
The expert continued, saying that the rules may be necessary since the number of new electric vehicles on the road is increasing, putting performance technology in the hands of people who may not be used to it.
Just six per cent of people surveyed said Britons should be free to drive any car on a standard licence, while a further six per cent said the move could be counterproductive.
Rules in South Australia indicate that the initial UHPV test will cost AUD$81 (£41.56) and will only take 45 minutes to complete, or drivers will risk enormous fines.
Burgess added: “The characteristics of EV drivetrains means they can deliver very high peak power. For example, the relatively accessible MG4 XPower has 429bhp.
“While these are heavy cars and the bhp per tonne ratio doesn’t quite put them in the same class as something like a Lamborghini, they are placing much more power in the hands of everyday drivers.”
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The South Australia test is estimated to take around 45 minutes
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There are no current plans to introduce measures like this in the United Kingdom, although experts could push for new rules to be introduced to ensure streets are safer for all road users.
