It was after a tragic fatal accident in 2019 where two young women died that the requirement has been introduced. The car involved was then a Lamborghini Huracán.
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Special authorization
The license calls Australians a U license, which stands for “Ultra High-Powered Vehicle”, loosely translated as “ultra-performance vehicle”.
That category includes vehicles with a weight-to-power ratio of at least 375 horsepower per ton and where the car weighs less than 4.5 tons.
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In addition to the weight-to-power ratio limitation, drivers of these kinds of performance cars are not allowed to turn off assistance systems when driven on public roads.
As I said, it is South Australia that introduced the new rules and to get a so-called U-authorisation you have to take a special online course and pass a theory test.
However, the requirement does not include visitors from other states or countries. Regardless of where you come from, however, all assistance systems must remain switched on.
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On the first day, i.e. 1 December 2024, a driver who broke the rules was caught.
The driver drove a Lamborghini Huracán STO, a car whose power-to-weight ratio is 478 horsepower per ton.
This is reported by the South Australian police.
The penalty is the equivalent of SEK 17,500 in fines. In the case of several offences, one can also be forced to shake bars for a year.
Switching off the assistance systems can lead to a fine of SEK 35,000 and thus applies to everyone who drives a vehicle that falls under the U-authorisation.