Time to Go Digital: South Africa’s Driving Licences and Vehicle Discs Could Soon Be a Thing of the Past

In a bold move toward modernising South Africa’s licensing system, Rob Handfield-Jones, managing director of Driving.co.za, has called on Parliament to take immediate action to develop an electronic system that would replace the country’s outdated physical driving licence cards and vehicle discs. Handfield-Jones, an experienced driving instructor and road laws expert, recently submitted a proposal to the Transport Portfolio Committee, urging them to prioritise a digital solution that can make the process more efficient and cost-effective for all South Africans.

A Long-Standing Problem

The call for a digital transition comes after a series of issues with the current system, including repeated breakdowns of South Africa’s only driving licence card printer. The 27-year-old machine, which has been offline for more than two months, is not expected to be repaired until mid-May 2025. The country has also faced procurement challenges, with the Department of Transport recently requesting the High Court to cancel a contract awarded to the French firm Idemia, which was set to provide new machines to print licence cards and vehicle discs.

With costs running into hundreds of millions of rands for the new machines, Handfield-Jones argues that South Africa should leap into the digital age and eliminate physical licence cards and vehicle discs altogether.

A Simple, Affordable Digital Solution

Handfield-Jones points out that the current Electronic National Traffic Information System (eNatis) already contains the necessary digital records for driving and vehicle licences. The solution, he says, lies in creating a secure link between peace officers and the eNatis system, which would allow them to access driving and vehicle licence information directly, without the need for physical documents.

Officers could simply use a smartphone, tablet, or laptop with fingerprint recognition or Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to verify the status of a driver’s licence or vehicle registration. This would not only reduce the chances of fraud and forgery, which are common issues with physical licences and discs, but also simplify the verification process.

Benefits of Going Digital

The proposed system would bring several advantages, including:

• Cost Savings: Eliminating the need to produce and renew physical licences and discs would save both the government and citizens money. No more queues at licensing centres, no more costly production processes, and no more waste.

• Environmental Impact: The environmental footprint of producing physical cards and discs, which involve plastic and other materials, would be reduced.

• Improved Efficiency: Licensing centres would no longer need to allocate resources for the production of physical documents, freeing up capacity for more critical tasks. Law enforcement would also benefit from greater efficiency, with ANPR technology helping to quickly identify non-compliant vehicles.

• Enhanced Law Enforcement: By integrating the system with ANPR, police officers could automatically detect vehicles with expired licences or those linked to active warrants, making the enforcement of road laws more effective and targeted.

A Modern Solution for a Modern Problem

Handfield-Jones’ proposal is not just about improving convenience—it’s about addressing a fundamental issue in the way South Africa’s road laws are enforced. With digital technology advancing rapidly, it’s time for the country to move beyond outdated paper-based systems and embrace a solution that will streamline operations, save money, and provide a better experience for all citizens.

While the proposed digital system would need to be implemented with the utmost attention to security, Handfield-Jones believes it’s a simple and affordable fix that could be rolled out rapidly. By making use of existing technologies, South Africa could leap into the future of driving and vehicle licensing with minimal investment.

As South Africans face ongoing challenges with the current system, it’s clear that digital driving licences and vehicle registration are not just a luxury—they’re a necessity for the future.

{Source: My Broad Band}

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