DVLA set to make major driving licence change affecting 50 million people
The UK government is set to revolutionise ID access for roughly 50 million Brits with a new app. By end of the summer, drivers across the nation will be able to present their driving licences digitally via smartphones. Dubbed the 'Gov.UK Wallet', the app is expected to securely house digital forms of state-issued documents, with ministers calling it a revolutionary step. The 'Wallet' will function seamlessly on both iOS and Android platforms.
Furthermore, this digital ID is slated to be accepted by supermarkets as proof of age when making certain purchases, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Military veterans are in line to be early testers of the app, enabling them to carry their HM Armed Forces Veteran Card electronically. The government has underscored that while adopting the digital version will be an option, traditional physical documents will still be valid.
More than just a digital ID holder, the app is designed to offer extra perks, such as reviewing one's driving history and managing licence updates all from one location.
It will even allow users to check their penalty points, backed by a two-factor authentication system to ramp up security against fraudulent replication.
The move is anticipated to streamline processes and potentially result in savings of about £45 billion. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, saying: "This is a game changer for the millions of people who use their driving licence as ID.
"The innovation puts power back in the hands of the people, making everyday interactions faster, easier, and more secure."
The move towards digitalisation is a key element of the government's strategy to "overhaul how the public sector uses technology", as stated by science and technology secretary Peter Kyle.
The government's Plan for Change also seeks to "slash the time people waste dealing with annoying processes so they can focus on what matters to them".
The current photocard driving licence, which is widely used by drivers across the UK, was first issued in 1998. This photocard had to be accompanied by a paper counterpart until this requirement was scrapped in 2015.
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