New driver's licence change for a million Aussies after teen's death
Sophia Naismith, 15, was killed when a Lamborghini mounted the kerb and hit her.
South Australians driving a high-powered vehicle will be required to go through training under a new law that is set to introduce an extra licence class for certain motorists.
The move, which will apply to the state's roughly 1.2 million registered drivers, comes after the 2019 death of 15-year-old Sophia Naismith, who was killed after she was hit by an out of control Lamborghini. She and her friend were walking along the side of the road when the luxury car mounted the kerb.
The devastated Naismith family have campaigned for the law changes, with the driver responsible walking free late last year.
"The reforms won't bring Sophia back but it will make drivers more accountable for their anti-social behaviour and it will reduce some of the trauma of families navigating the legal system," said Sophia's father, Luke Naismith, as reported by ABC.
What vehicles will be included under a new licence class?
Anyone driving an ultra-high-powered vehicle will be required to have training. An ultra high-powered vehicle has been defined by Attorney-General Kyam Maher as one with a power-to-weight ratio of 276 kilowatts per tonne or higher, it's been reported.
There were about 200 makes of vehicles covered by the law, he said.
"If you drive an ultra high-powered vehicle, you need to go through training to have that accredited on your licence," he explained. The new licence class will be in place "as soon as we possibly can, but certainly in the coming months".
The new laws will also provide a mid-tier charge between causing death by dangerous driving and driving without due care. Until now, the maximum penalty for causing someone's death after driving without due care was only 12 months in South Australia. That's now been changed to seven years, Mr Maher told the ABC.
New sentencing options will be in place within days, according to the national broadcaster. However, it's not known how long it will take for the Department of Transport and police to introduce the new licence process as the department works through the new rules.
Yahoo News Australia has sought comment from the South Australian Department of Infrastructure and Transport.
Driver of fatal Lamborghini crash walks free
In October last year, Alexander Campbell, the driver of the Lamborghini that killed Sophia, was given a four-month and 27-day sentence after pleading guilty to aggravated driving without due care. But the term was later suspended.
In August, Campbell was acquitted on a more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving after a trial by Judge Paul Muscat.
At his trial, prosecutors contended Campbell accelerated harshly causing the powerful rear-wheel-drive car to swerve severely to the left. But in an interview with police, the 35-year-old said when he changed gear while accelerating up to the 60km/h speed limit the wheels started spinning and the Lamborghini moved sideways instantly.
Campbell said he panicked as he was unable to stop the car from sliding, even though he was applying the brakes.
with AAP
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