V8 ace slams street racers

Young street racers are under fire from V8 Supercar driver Greg Murphy as well as Government policy-makers for their dangerous antics.

As the Government starts preparing a public discussion paper on whether to require everyone owning cars to take out third-party vehicle insurance, Murphy says nobody under 18 should be allowed to drive modified high-powered vehicles.

In signing up to a campaign by the Motor Trade Association to teach young drivers how to be safe on the road, Murphy has hit out at what he calls a growing culture of allowing such vehicles to fall into the hands of "low-skilled reckless show-offs".

"Boy racers are dangerous dreamers and it is great to see the campaigns by police and local authorities to curb their activities," he said.

"Imposing a minimum age for the driving of modified vehicles would add a further element to the policing of young-driver behaviour."

Murphy said his aim was not to take "any of the buzz" from racing.