A new study from the Startline Used Car Tracker shows that most people in the UK support requiring special tests and licences for high-performance car drivers.
According to the survey, 54% of respondents believe that a specialised licence could help cut down on accidents, while 42% think it would ensure only skilled drivers get behind the wheel of these powerful vehicles.
This comes after South Australia introduced special licences for ultra high-performance cars—those with more than 370 brake horsepower (bhp) per tonne. The move followed a tragic incident in Adelaide, where a 15-year-old girl was killed by a Lamborghini.
Paul Burgess, CEO of Startline Motor Finance, said, “The public seems to feel quite strongly that drivers of high-performance cars should be subject to special rules. Most people have probably witnessed irresponsible driving of such vehicles, and when things go wrong with that much power, the consequences can be severe."
The survey also brought up concerns about the rise of electric vehicles with high power, making them more accessible to everyday drivers. Burgess pointed out that some EVs, like the MG4 XPower with 429 bhp, are giving average motorists access to serious power, even though they don't have the same power-to-weight ratio as supercars like Lamborghinis.
The Startline Used Car Tracker survey, done by APD Global Research, polled 307 consumers and 60 dealers. Only 6% of those surveyed were against the idea of special licences for high-performance cars, while 23% said it could help lower insurance costs for these models.
Do you think the UK should require a special licence for high-performance cars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below...
