The DVLA is inviting views on the future of the counterpart to the photocard driving licence and on the possible alternative ways of providing the information it contains. The options presented are intended to stimulate discussion - and they'll certainly do that. The consultation should be read in context of the large-scale work underway at the UK Passport Service on biometric passport technology (see PublicTechnology.net's Hot Topic on this).
The consultation period will run from 16 February 2004 to 31 May 2004, with subsequent publication of summarised responses following completion of the consultation.
Prior to the consulation, the DVLA says it has held early discussions with organisations representing the main users of the current counterpart including Police, Courts, Fixed Penalty Offices (FPOs), Driving Standards Agency (DSA), the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
The UK introduced the photocard driving licence in July 1998, and since then, DVLA has been made increasingly aware that the counterpart is not satisfactorily fulfilling its intended function. Many would like to carry both photocard and counterpart paper document while driving but find the counterpart too cumbersome. The necessity to have two separate items, differing in format and size, is seen as outdated by many.
The consultation invites views on whether the counterpart is still seen as a necessary document and explores possible alternative ways of providing the information it contains. The functions of the counterpart and the various alternatives are explored in more detail later in the document but a summary appears here.
The counterpart provides:
- details of endorsements and disqualifications;
- details of provisional entitlements held;
- service as a "card carrier" to ensure clear addressing and delivery of the photocard driving licence;
- the means to notify DVLA of changes of address;
- an explanation of vehicle categories and the entitlement necessary to drive them;
- the holder's basic driver licensing history;
- information on provisional licensing restrictions and conditions;
- special information notes (e.g. towing of trailers by motorcycles) and telephone enquiry numbers.
- Option A: Do nothing, i.e. retain the counterpart in its present form and continue with its present functions.
- Option B: Retain the counterpart in a similar format, this document fulfilling the function of card carrier. The document would continue to accompany the photocard each time a new licence was issued, providing a "snapshot" of the information presently contained on the counterpart. However, drivers would not be required to produce the card carrier when requested e.g. to the police.
- Option C: Abolish the counterpart entirely and provide, under secure conditions, an electronic facility to allow drivers' details to be checked, with the consent of the driver where appropriate, by those who have a legitimate need to do so. Examples might include vehicle hire companies and organisations whose employees are required to drive as part of their work.
- Option D: Abolish the counterpart and provide a telephone enquiry facility to obtain relevant information on a similar basis as option C above.
Prior to their introduction, the Agency would have to evaluate the associated benefits, costs and risks. This evaluation would consider the possibility of including on the smartcard information currently contained on the counterpart in electronic format.
Draft proposals for the third EC Directive on driving licences include provision for Member States to insert a microchip on the photocard driving licence, but in view of the likely timescale needed to implement this proposal, this consultation does not offer it as an option for consideration at present. It does, however, seek views on whether this should be considered as a future alternative to the counterpart.
Quelle: PublicTechnology, 17.02.2004
