- Motorists in South Australia need a special license for cars with over 276 kW (370 hp) per tonne.
- Drivers need to complete an online course and a test to be certified to drive high-performance vehicles.
- Locals can also be fined AU$ 5,000 (~$3,200) for tuning off a car’s traction control system.
A man has been fined in Australia for driving a Lamborghini Huracan STO without the state’s fancy new ‘ultra high-powered vehicle’ license, which local lawmakers have just introduced on December 1.
Authorities in the state of South Australia started working on a special license for drivers of high-powered vehicles in 2023 after a 15-year-old pedestrian was killed by a driver of a Lamborghini Huracan. The new ‘U’ license is required for any vehicle weighing less than 4,500 kg (9,920 lbs) with a power-to-weight ratio of more than 276 kW or 370 hp per tonne (2,200 lbs).
Read: South Australia Introduces New Supercar License, Tougher Penalties For Dangerous Drivers
It didn’t take long for police to nab the first individual without the appropriate license. The blacked-out Huracan STO was pulled over at 7:30 a.m. on December 1, just 7.5 hours after the legislation came into effect. The man was issued an expiation notice for driving with an expired license for this class of vehicle. It’s unclear how much the driver was fined, but there is a maximum penalty of AU$2,500 for a first offense.
Interestingly, police first took notice of this particular Huracan STO after seeing it did not have a rear number plate. Had the 36-year-old driver put on the car’s number plate, he may never have been pulled over.
Getting a ‘U’ license for an “Ultra High-Powered Vehicle” is simple. All drivers need to do is complete a $40 online course that takes around 45 minutes and then take a test. The South Australia Police say this course teaches individuals how to safely operate a “UHPV”, and the risks associated with driving one, touching on important vehicle functions like electronic stability control, automated emergency braking, and other automated intervention systems.
The introduction of this special license isn’t the only new rule being enforced by South Australian authorities. Drivers of UHPVs can be fined up to AU $5,000 (~$3,200) if they disable a car’s ABS, autonomous emergency braking, electronic stability control, or traction control.
