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EU driving licences: UK calls for multi-use, interoperable, licences

01 February 2004

The UK Department of Transport has put out a consultation paper on the European Commission's proposal for new-style EU driving licences. The EU proposal calls for driving licences to be renewed every 10 years (as distinct from up to 70 years old, then renewed every 5 years in the UK). The Commission also proposed that the new licences should be plastic card with a microchip carrying a photograph of the holder and the use of data would be strictly limited to the purpose for which it is gathered, to that of a driving licence.

The consultation paper proposes to go much further. First, by including "fingerprint or iris recondition" on the chip. Second, it is opposed to limiting the use of the data collected to that of a driving licence. The paper says this would:

"not allow the full potential of the technology to be exploited; it would restrict interoperability with other smart card applications; and it would require the public to pay for several cards"

It also argues that the restriction limiting the use of the micro-chipped driving licence would make it difficult to develop: "a business case on the basis of driving licence use only" and this would not allow: "the full potential of the technology to be exploited". "Interoperability" is jargon for one card having several uses (eg: passport, driving licence, identity card or for business, credit and cheque cards).

Quote in full from paper:

"There could be large advantages from providing some limited flexibility in the content of the chip. Biometric information (such as fingerprint or iris recognition) on the chip would increase driving licence security. The restrictions proposed by the Commission would make it difficult to develop a business case on the basis of driving licence use only. This would not allow the full potential of the technology to be exploited; it would restrict interoperability with other smart card applications; and it would require the public to pay for several cards....

Do you think there would be benefits in allowing flexibility so that, in future the one plastic card could have other uses?"

Tony Bunyan, Statewatch editor, comments:

"The clear direction of numerous proposals at national and EU levels is for the introduction of a single biometric micro-chipped card which can serve a multitude of purposes for the state and commercial businesses. The dangers for privacy and civil liberties are monumental especially as, in practice, EU data protection laws offer little or no protection against the misuse and abuse of personal data."

UK consultation paper on the European Commission's proposal for a directive on driving licences (pdf)

EU driving licences to be renewed every 10 years and new security features added each time

Statewatch coverage of the European Commission proposal, December 2003

The European Commission has put forward a proposal to amend the existing Directive on driving licences (91/439/EC) which would mean that it would be mandatory for driving licences to be renewed every 10 years. At present the majority of countries either have no time limit (Austria, Belgium and Germany) or a set time limit (eg: up to 70 years of age in the UK).

There is merit in the Commission proposals to replace the different forms of driving licence with a standard format, introducing standards for testing and age qualifications for certain categories of vehicles. However, the Commission also argues that it necessary to harmonise the form of driving licences by abolishing paper licences and replacing them with by plastic cards which may include a microchip holding data on a driver which has to be renewed at least every 10 years.

It is argued that this is this is necessary for people to travel and move country more easily and complete the "free movement of citizens". Overall it is estimated that 60% of the populat