Photographs on driving licences
01 January 1991
Photographs on driving licences
bacdoc November=1991
Department of Transport press release 25 March 1991
PHOTOGRAPHS FOR DRIVING LICENCES
A proposal to include a photograph on British driving licences
were announced today by the Department of Transport. Christopher
Chope, Minister for Roads Traffic, said:
"The driving licence is an important document, its loss and
fraudulent misuse by an unscrupulous finder can cause
severe difficulties for the owner and the absence of a
photograph may make it difficult for the police when they
are trying to establish a driver's identity.
"Great Britain is one of the few countries in the world
which does not have a photograph on the driving licence.
Yet, nowadays, many people routinely use documents such as
work passes, bus passes and rail season tickets that carry
photographs to identify the holder. A driving licence with
a photograph would assist in the same way.
"Developing technology will enable the Driver and Vehicle
Licensing Agency in Swansea to attach a photograph to a
driving licence easily and securely at a modest additional
cost.
ID Identity cards surveillance police