Supercar Licence
Firstly, what vehicles are denoted as supercars ? Generally street legal (usually expensive) luxury sports cars fit this category. A supercar will be capable of high performance in relation to speed, handling and engine or electric motor power. Marques such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Porsche, McLaren and lesser known manufacturers have produced examples in this category that occupy our road networks.
The history of the supercar goes back to the late 1960’s when the Lamborghini Miura was born and said to be the first “supercar”. The following decades spawned V8 and V12 powered two seater coupe styled vehicles – the models normally found on boys’ bedroom walls. In the nineties and noughties, supercars expanded to four seater variants from the likes of Aston Martin (Vantage) and Ferrari (Mondial, 456, 612). Later came the Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari FF and Porsche’s Panamera Turbo.
With sports cars today becoming more powerful, a blurred definition exists on whether these are sports or supercars. Aside from this, these powerful machines require care in their use and ownership. If you have the funds and a full driving licence, you can own and drive a supercar utilizing its full potential wherever you feel it’s safe to do so. However, depending on driving experience, reaction time ability and attitude, these vehicles can be lethal weapons.
These chariots will act differently from the average road car in their handling, acceleration, braking and concerning. Drivers can be caught out with the vehicle’s unpredictable swift anti-gravity motion changes. We’ve all seen the social media videos where a Ferrari or Lambo has hit another car or roadside tree, resulting from a quick blip on the throttle or an accelerated exit from a junction.
In Australia, at the end of this year, they are introducing a Supercar Licence which will be mandatory for owners with cars producing over 370 BHP per tonne. Passing the online course and test for a nominal sum will provide the driver with a U-Class licence. The course should teach drivers how to safely handle their performance toys. There is no practical test involved. The online course may help drivers with information they may not have thought about before, but will it be enough to sharpen the pilot’s skillset when it comes to the driving of the commanding apparatus ?
As a holder of an advanced driving certificate (IAM Roadsmart https://www.iamroadsmart.com) for the last eight years or so – which I fully recommend taking the course and practical examination, the extra information learned and practical skills attained are still with me today when driving. Being a mature driver of over 40 years, and having owned many powerful rear wheel drive cars with no traction control assistance, ABS or electronic aids to keep you on the tarmac, when I was younger, I experienced loss of control of vehicles and have ended up in someone’s front garden, an 180 degree spin on a roundabout, and have been a passenger in cars that have ended up in a field on a country lane bend and head-on into a tree in a leafy suburban street. Strangely these memories kick in when deciding on an overtake manoeuvre or the like today.
Road conditions, visibility, speed, motion of other vehicles, potential hazards and positioning are all computed in seconds before a decision is made whether to manoeuvre. Firstly though, will an overtake achieve anything? Is there an advantage to be made? If there is a very slow moving vehicle in front and you wish to make progression, then fair enough, justified. If there is any element of danger evident, then hold off and just wait for a safer opportunity.
If I was in the fortunate position to purchase a supercar, I would be quite happy to take the course and welcome a practical test too. I personally think it’s a good idea Australia have come up with and if lives can be saved by training and education before hitting the wild west of the roads in a loaded gun, then it’s a good thing. ©