Australia has passed new laws requiring special U Class driver's licenses for drivers of high-powered cars, which is a big step toward improving road safety and regulating high-performance automobiles. These vehicles, often known as sports cars or supercars, are now governed by more stringent rules in an effort to reduce the hazards brought on by their potentially harmful performance and power.

The South Australian Government, which is leading this program, has disclosed that by December 1, 2024, about 270 drivers in the state would need to have the new U Class license. Individuals must successfully complete a forthcoming online training course specialized exclusively for high-powered vehicles in order to be eligible for this license classification.

The training will address risk awareness, using Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and driving performance automobiles safely when it is released early next year. The new regulation applies to any vehicles having a power-to-weight ratio of 276 kilowatts per tonne or over (370 horsepower per 1,000 kilograms or 2,204 pounds).

However, the law goes beyond just allowing for license updates. The South Australian government has added safeguards to stop performance cars from having automatic aid systems disabled. This measure aims to guarantee the continuous operation of vital safety elements including anti-lock braking, automatic emergency braking, electronic stability control, and traction control.

A "aggravated offense" will now be charged against drivers who use their supercars' sport modes in populated places when doing so results in fatalities or serious injuries. The laws are not absolute, though.

According to Joe Szakacs, Minister for Police, Emergency Services, and Correctional Services, "it is also a defense if it was impracticable to drive with the automated intervention system enabled, as there are some circumstances where such systems should legitimately be turned off, like when a vehicle is bogged or being driven on loose surfaces."

Activating sport modes in supercars in urban settings might result in improved responsiveness and power, features that can contribute to regrettable incidents, according to the nation's transportation safety authorities. The South Australian Government hopes to strike a compromise between keeping the pleasure of operating these high-performance vehicles and ensuring public safety by enacting this law.