Soon you will need a special license to drive a very powerful car in the state of South Australia. This state in the south of the country has just approved a new law that will force a special category to get behind the wheel of a racing car, reports the specialized site Motor1.
270 drivers affected
Tighter regulations following a dramatic accident in 2019: the driver of a Lamborghini Huracan had fatally struck a 15-year-old girl.
A total of 270 drivers must pass this “Class U” of the Australian license, through online training being developed by local authorities, specifies the Car Expert site. The measure will enter into force on December 1, 2024.
What models are affected?
The affected vehicles? Models weighing less than 4.5 tons with a power-to-weight ratio greater than or equal to 276 kW (or 375 horsepower) per 1,000 kg. A quite relevant relationship to evaluate the performance of a machine and which is often expressed in kg/horse: the Australian limit is then 2.66 kg per horse, which must not be exceeded.
“Ultra High Power Vehicle (UHPV)” in the text of this new law to designate these “ultra high power vehicles” (hence this “U Class” license), among which we logically find very sporty cars: the Lamborghini Hurricane, 2.3 kg. /hp, or a Ferrari 458 Speciale, at 2.4 kg/hp.
The law also provides for new sanctions: it will be prohibited to activate the sport mode and deactivate certain driving aids on the open road, such as ABS or traction control, under penalty of a fine of 5,000 Australian dollars, that is, almost 3,000 euros.
Penalties for reckless driving resulting in death or serious injury are also toughened: the maximum penalty increases from one year to 5 years in prison. If the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or precisely if he was driving a UHPV without this new authorization, the penalty could increase to 7 years in prison.
Source: BFM TV
