Public supports special licences for high-performance cars, research shows

New research from the Startline Used Car Tracker reveals that a majority of the UK public supports the introduction of special tests and licences for high-performance car drivers.

According to the survey, 54% of respondents believe that requiring a specialised licence would help reduce accidents, while 42% think it would ensure that only skilled drivers have access to such powerful vehicles.

The findings come as South Australia introduces ultra high performance vehicle licences, aimed at cars with over 370 brake horsepower (bhp) per tonne.

This legislation followed a tragic incident in Adelaide, where a 15-year-old girl was killed by a Lamborghini.

Paul Burgess, CEO of Startline Motor Finance, commented: “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."

Interestingly, the survey also highlighted concerns about the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) with high power outputs, making such cars more accessible to everyday drivers.

Burgess pointed out that some EVs, such as the MG4 XPower with 429 bhp, are putting considerable power in the hands of average motorists, even if they don’t quite match the power-to-weight ratio of supercars like Lamborghinis.

The Startline Used Car Tracker survey, conducted by APD Global Research, questioned 307 consumers and 60 dealers, with only 6% of respondents opposing the idea of special licences for high-performance cars. Another 23% said such a measure would help reduce insurance costs for high-performance models.