Global Adoption of the Digital Driver’s License

Digital technologies are becoming increasingly available and integrated into practically every aspect of our life, which opens up incredible opportunities but also poses some very difficult problems.8 Cybersecurity dangers have risen in recent years,5 and many susceptible people’s sensitive information has been exposed. The dangers of internet data storage have been made public by recent Optus and Medicare data breaches.

Convenience is the primary force behind the acceptance of digital licences. For Google Pay or Apple Pay transactions, people prefer to use their smartphone wallets, and they find it more convenient to utilize a digital payment system on their phone.16 According to J.P Morgan 2019 Payments Trends, physical bank cards are Australia’s main method of online payment, making up 52% of transactions.1 However, Australians are now nearly universally aware of digital payments (93.9%), and 72.4% use at least one digital payment method on a yearly average basis.2

In the meantime, more and more nations are using digital forms of identification. In February 2018, Kosovo became the first nation to introduce a mobile driver’s license on a national level. After that came Brazil, Argentina, Norway, South Korea, Denmark, UK, and the United States, to name a few. Australia does not want to lag behind other industrialized countries as a global leader in technology and human progress. There has been an increase in interest on a global scale in the creation and use of digital licenses as a replacement for conventional physical cards in recent years.4 While confirming a driver’s identification and driving rights is the same basic function of all types of licenses, there are some significant variations between digital and physical licenses that must be taken into account when weighing their relative merits.

Difference between Digital Driver’s License and Physical card?

The main difference between a digital driver’s license and a regular one is that a smartphone app can be used to access the information on it. Now, a driver can electronically carry information that was previously only accessible on a card they carried in their wallet. The digital driver’s license currently serves as a secondary form of identification and is not intended to completely replace the physical card.

As per VicRoads, “The digital license is more secure than a physical card version, as it can only be accessed through a PIN or biometric authentication. The license will be updated in response to any changes, such as new license conditions or a change of address.”17

What is biometric authentication?

A security procedure called biometric authentication leverages a person’s distinctive physical or behavioral traits to confirm their identity. This entails authenticating a user’s identification using a variety of biometric variables, including fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, voice recognition, or even behavioral aspects like typing habits.18

The usage of biometric authentication is expanding in a number of contexts, including security systems, smartphones, and computers. When using biometric authentication, it is crucial to make sure that the appropriate security measures are in place because it is not error-proof and can be vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Registration and Licensing Statistics

Digital driver’s licenses are the newest in digital innovation. Today, digital licenses are supported by at least 3 states in Australia:

• NSW
• Queensland
• South Australia

The Victorian government has announced that a digital driver license trial will take place in the outlying city of Ballarat. Victoria will begin issuing digital licenses from 2024 as part of the much-anticipated transition. In Australia, Victoria will be the fourth state to adopt the digital driving license scheme.10

VicRoads is in charge of managing vehicle registration and licensing in Victoria. The R&L division of VicRoads believes that there are more than five millions drivers in Victoria. The VicRoads website states, ”You must always have your driver license and/or learner permit card with you when you are driving if you have a learner permit, probationary license, are under the age of 26, or have a heavy vehicle license.”11

The most recent statistics available from Victoria Police for 2016 shows there were 107,319 instances of drivers operating vehicles without proper documentation. The totals can be understated by the real totals because several fines increased in the 2016–17 fiscal year. Data: Victoria Police, VicRoads.3

Penalty for not carrying a driver license in Victoria

If you don’t provide your license, learner’s permit, or other document when asked by an authority or within seven days, you’ll be charged  $185 or 1 Infringement Penalty Unit is applied. The maximum judicial punishment, if heard in court, is five units, or $925.6

What Advantages Do Digital Driver’s License Offer?

A digital driver’s license has a number of advantages, including:

1. Convenience: There is no need to carry a physical card because a digital driver’s licence is simple to access from a smartphone or other mobile device.12
2. Security: Advanced encryption and biometric authentication can be used to safeguard digital driver’s licenses, making them harder to fabricate or steal than conventional licenses.9
3. Accessibility: For those who frequently travel or switch between states, a digital driver’s license is a more practical solution because it is simple to update and accessible from any location.13
4. Cost-effective: The necessity for physical cards is removed by digital driver’s licenses, which ultimately saves state governments money by cutting down on printing and distribution expenses.15
5. Eco-friendly: Digital driver’s licenses can reduce paper waste and environmental effect by avoiding the use of physical cards.15
6. Improved privacy: Digital driver’s licenses may be created to contain only the information that is required, so preserving the privacy of the individual.9 For Eg; You can’t merely show the bouncer at the nightclub door your license’s birth date to prove that you are old enough to enter. You must present the entire package to him, including your name and address, which he could duplicate.28 According to a global study by L’Oréal Paris, 78% of Australian women have encountered street harassment, and 70% of us have witnessed it.7
7. Contactless transactions: The use of a digital driver’s license eliminates the requirement for physical card handling for contactless transactions like buying alcohol or entering restricted places. Maintaining social distance through contactless transactions enables the social economy to stabilize.19
8. Reduced risk of loss or damage: Physical driver’s licenses can be misplaced, stolen, or damaged, and replacing them can be difficult and time-consuming. This risk is eliminated by a digital driver’s license because it can be recovered from any device with an internet connection.
9. Improved accessibility for people with disabilities: Digital driver’s licenses can be made more user-friendly for those with disabilities and senior members by including accessibility features like text-to-speech and high contrast settings.20
10. Reduced wait times: Traditional driver’s licenses can be frustrating for drivers to get because the processing time might take weeks or even months. The application process for digital driver’s licenses can be finished online, and licenses can be issued considerably more quickly. The time it takes to check mandatory safety, licensing, and training credentials and certificates required of workers before they start on a task can be slashed from three days to only 30 minutes, according to digital ID trials done in Queensland.21

Overall, digital driver’s licenses offer a range of advantages that can increase productivity, security, and convenience for drivers and other stakeholders while also delivering improved flexibility, accessibility, and accuracy of data.

What are the drawbacks of digital driver’s licenses?

1. Dependence on technology: Digital driver licenses are dependent on technology to operate, therefore if a driver doesn’t have access to a device, an internet connection, or if the equipment malfunctions, they may not be able to obtain their license. For drivers who need to rapidly obtain their license, such as during a traffic stop, this could be challenging. Even though digital driver’s licenses are convenient where they are accepted, a paper card should still be kept on hand just in case.22
2. Privacy and Security risks: Digital driver licenses could be subject to hacking or data breaches, which could lead to the theft or wrongful use of sensitive personal data.23
3. Cost of implementation: It might be necessary to make large infrastructural and technology investments in order to implement digital driving licenses. For law enforcement organizations to adequately validate digital driver licenses, new technologies and procedures may need to be adopted. Law enforcement officers could need more resources and training for this. If a biometric verification or authentication system is unreliable or generates a significant proportion of false positives or negatives, the cost of human intervention and correction may be greater than any purported cost reduction.14
4. Lack of standardization: Digital driver licenses are currently not standardized, therefore different states, territories, or nations may have unique systems and regulations..24
5. Accessibility issues: While digital driver licenses can offer improved accessibility for some individuals, they could also pose problems for people who aren’t tech savvy or don’t have access to digital gadgets. Additionally, not all devices or operating systems may be able to use digital driving licenses, which could cause problems for some users.22
6. Resistance to change: Some people can be opposed to the use of digital driver licenses because they prefer traditional paper licenses or worry about the security and privacy of digital systems.25
7. Lack of physical backup: Digital driver licenses do not offer a physical backup alternative in the event of device loss or malfunction, in contrast to conventional driver licenses. If a driver is asked to show identification and there is no way to verify it digitally, this could be problematic.
8. Legal recognition issues: Digital driver licenses have not yet been adopted by many states, territories and nations, which could cause problems with legal recognition between jurisdictions. This could cause misunderstandings or difficulties if a driver is asked to provide identification from a different state or nation. Digital driving licenses may also give rise to legal concerns about matters like liability, data protection, and privacy. Before digital driver licenses are widely used, these legal difficulties might need to be resolved.24
9. Exclusion of certain groups: Some people may have trouble getting or utilizing digital driver licenses, such as those with disabilities, medical conditions, indigenous people, or language issues.27
10. Unintended consequences: The use of digital driver licenses can have unforeseen repercussions that affect the insurance sector or how traffic enforcement is conducted. Before introducing a digital driver license system, it is important to carefully analyze these potential effects.26

Digital driver license could bring several difficulties and issues that need to be resolved through careful planning, creation, and implementation.

Overall, cost, security, convenience, and environmental impact all play a role in the choice to switch to a digital driving license instead of a physical card. While both types of licenses have benefits and downsides, many governments and drivers find digital licenses to be an appealing alternative because of their range of compelling advantages. It is expected that digital driver licenses will become more prevalent and widely accepted as a practical substitute for physical cards as technology continues to advance and mature. The digital driver’s license currently serves as a secondary form of identification and is not intended to completely replace the physical card. Since not everyone has access to a smartphone, the physical card will continue to serve as the primary form of identification. What happens if you need your digital ID but your phone’s battery is dead? Furthermore, carrying a real driver’s license card might help to remind drivers how important it is to drive safely and responsibly. Physical cards operate as a visible reminder for drivers to drive safely and obey the law by serving as a tangible representation of the legal duty associated with operating a vehicle. The extent to which the values and ethics regimes of public organizations account for the influence of advances in IT requires further study.

1. J.P. Morgan 2019 Payments Trends – Global Insights Report: Data has been provided to J.P. Morgan Merchant Services by Edgar, Dunn and Company, 2018.
2. Roymorgan.com, 2019, www.roymorgan.com/findings/majority-of-australians-now-use-digital-payments-a-potential-threat-or-opportunity.
3. Cowie, Craig Butt, Tom. “Police Patrols Issue 375,000 Traffic Fines to People Flouting Road Rules.” The Age, 30 Dec. 2017, www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/police-patrols-issue-375000-traffic-fines-to-people-flouting-road-rules-20171230-h0bkoa.html. Accessed 10 May 2023.
4. “Top 5 Digital ID Trends Shaping 2020 (and Beyond).” Www.thalesgroup.com, www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/government/identity/digital-identity-services/trends.
5. “ACSC Annual Cyber Threat Report, July 2021 to June 2022 | Cyber.gov.au.” Cyber.gov.au, 2021, www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/reports-and-statistics/acsc-annual-cyber-threat-report-july-2021-june-2022.
6. VicRoads. “Fines.” VicRoads, 6 Dec. 2018, www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-rules/penalties/fines.
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9. “Apple Announces First States to Adopt Driver’s Licenses and State IDs in Wallet.” Apple Newsroom, www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/09/apple-announces-first-states-to-adopt-drivers-licenses-and-state-ids-in-wallet/.
10. “Digital Driver Licences to Be Trialled in Regional Vic, Statewide Rollout by 2024.” ABC News, 8 May 2023, www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-08/digital-driver-licence-victoria-state-government-ballarat-trial/102316076. Accessed 10 May 2023.
11. https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/licences/licence-and-permit-types/licence-conditions
12. “DDL Technology.” Thales Group, 2022, www.thalesgroup.com/en/americas/united-states/digital-identity-and-security/ddlpilot/ddl-technology.
13. Service, NSW Department of Customer. “Digital Driver Licence.” NSW Government, 22 Jan. 2020, www.nsw.gov.au/projects/digital-driver-licence. Accessed 10 May 2023.
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15. Contributor. “Five Ways to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Printing and Save Costs.” Itbrief.com.au, itbrief.com.au/story/five-ways-to-reduce-the-environmental-impact-of-printing-and-save-costs.
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21. “QLD Digital ID Trial Reveals Big Boosts in Productivity for Aussie Businesses | Eftpos Australia.” Www.eftposaustralia.com.au, www.eftposaustralia.com.au/news/qld-digital-id-trial-reveals-big-boosts-productivity-aussie-businesses. Accessed 10 May 2023.
22. “Digital Driver’s License: What You Need to Know – TrustGrid.” Trustgrid.com, 3 Sept. 2021, trustgrid.com/digital-drivers-license-what-you-need-to-know/. Accessed 10 May 2023.
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