UK motorists split over digital driving licences

Britons are divided over the government’s decision to introduce digital driving licences later this year.

That’s according to recent data from the motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk who found that 49% of Brits were happy about the upcoming changes while 47% were not.

In January this year the UK government announced its plans to launch a GOV.UK Wallet and App in order to simplify access to services and documents such as driving licences.

The changes come following a government report that identified £45 billion in efficiency savings through reforms to public sector technology.

The digital driving licence isn’t set to be mandatory however, with the government still issuing physical licences. This will be reassuring for the 87% of Brits who prefer a physical licence.

Another major concern raised was that almost half of those surveyed felt the changes would create issues for older drivers who may struggle with the digital service.

While a quarter of Brits admitted they preferred things as they are and were reluctant to change.

There were reasons to be optimistic for the final quarter of those surveyed, with 25% of Brits believing that the changes won’t cause any issues, and could in fact prove handy for carrying ID while also saving time and money.

The UK isn’t the first country in the world to introduce digital licences, with similar initiatives already existing in Australia, Denmark, Iceland and Norway.

And the European Union is requiring its member states to develop at least one form of digital identification by 2026.

Recent data found that over 1 million UK driving licences were reported as lost or stolen over a one-year period, costing drivers more than £20 million.

The technology is designed to provide more security for users, using features that are already built into modern smartphones such as facial recognition checks similar to those used when paying with a digital bank card.

This should make digital documents more secure, even if a device is lost.

Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “It’s fair to say Brits are on the fence when it comes to their opinions on digital driving licences.

“While legitimate concerns are raised for elderly drivers, the changes aren’t mandatory so it does allow those who consider themselves less tech-savvy to continue with a physical licence.

“For those in favour, digital licences offer a secure form of identification, using smartphone security features that most people already have in use.

“The statistics on the number of driving licences lost or stolen in the UK are quite alarming, so it’s hoped this innovative step will create significant savings.

“Digital licences could be a big step forward and it will be interesting to see how Brits react once they become available in the summer.

“It’s crucial all drivers have a valid driving licence, anyone caught with inaccurate details or an expired licence could invalidate their car insurance and even risk fines, penalty points and prosecution.”