South Australia may soon require special license for performance vehicles

Drivers of high-powered vehicles in South Australia may soon be required to hold a special license before getting behind the wheel of a high-powered vehicle amid new road safety laws in the state.

The South Australian Government is currently drafting a tiered licensing system for performance vehicles which they aim to introduce to parliament before the end of 2022.

ABC News in Australia reports that the special license would be similar to that of motorcycle and truck licenses requiring the driver to undergo advanced training before stepping foot in a high-powered vehicle.

The proposed changes come as a result of the death of a 15-year-old pedestrian who was killed by a supercar in 2019 with the government calling for more to be done in the name of public safety.

Vehicle performance will be determined by the vehicles power-to-weight ratio which is said to be no more than 130kW per tonne according to Drive.

Currently, provisional licenses for newer drivers in South Australia ban the use of vehicles built before 2010 fitted with eight cylinders or those fitted with turbochargers.

Unlike Australia, the equivalent learner and restricted licenses in New Zealand don’t hold any vehicle performance-related restrictions.

While the new rule may be alarming for performance vehicle enthusiasts in the Australian state, could it be a necessary change in the name of creating safer drivers globally?