The days of jumping straight into your new Ferrari with nothing but a standard driving license might be numbered. Following Australia's lead, Britain is considering implementing special licenses for supercar drivers, because apparently, having enough money to buy a 200mph car doesn't necessarily mean you know how to drive one.South Australia's new "U-Class" license requirement, launching this December, targets vehicles producing more than 375hp per ton - a figure that would catch everything from Lamborghinis to certain Tesla models. To put that in perspective, it's like requiring a special license to operate a rocket when you've only been trained to fly a kite.The catalyst for this discussion? A recent incident near Chesterfield where someone discovered that a Lamborghini Huracán's abilities far exceeded their own. As Derbyshire Police rather diplomatically put it, "the power far outweighed the driver's talent" - which might be the politest way possible of saying someone got in way over their head.The Australian system requires drivers to complete an online course costing £31, followed by a £10 license fee. Surprisingly, there's no practical assessment involved - it's all theoretical knowledge, which seems a bit like learning to swim by reading a book about water.UK road safety experts are watching with interest, though they're pushing for a more comprehensive approach. Nicholas Lyes from IAM RoadSmart points out that supercars are "very different beasts" compared to your typical learner car. It's rather like comparing a house cat to a tiger - they might look similar, but one requires significantly more respect.The UK already has experience with graduated licensing through its motorcycle system, which has successfully reduced casualties by more than 50% since 1990. However, the AA's spokesman Jack Cousens suggests this might be "creating a solution for a very niche problem," presumably because there are fewer supercar owners than regular motorists.What's particularly interesting is that this isn't just about traditional supercars anymore. Electric vehicles like the Tesla Model S Plaid, with its eye-watering 455hp per ton, would also require special licensing. As trainer Rod Williams notes, these EVs present their own unique challenges: "They're so quick and the weight is so low down it gives a false sense of confidence."Fail to comply in Australia, and you could face fines up to £1,288 or even prison time. Whether Britain will adopt similar penalties remains to be seen, but one thing's clear: the days of treating supercars like regular cars might be coming to an end.
