Police would have been prepared to use new "shoot to kill" powers if they were needed when a man did doughnuts in front of Flinders Street Station, sending shockwaves through Melbourne.

Blayze Pemberton-Burden, 26, is accused of endangering life after allegedly driving erratically, doing doughnuts and yelling from the top of a silver car in the middle of Flinders and Swanston streets on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Pemberton-Burden was due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court after being arrested on Wednesday afternoon.

In October last year, Victoria Police authorised its officers to use lethal force against drivers who deliberately or recklessly risk the lives of the public as part of a new hostile vehicle policy.