India Introduces Smart Driving Licenses In A Bid To Increase Road Safety: India will no longer distribute paper or booklet driving licenses and registration certificates, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has confirmed. With India’s roads claiming the lives of more than one million individuals over the past decade, officials have decided that action needs to be taken to keep India’s motorists safe on the roads. And the implementation of a uniform Smart Driving License throughout India promises to do just that.
India Introduces Smart Driving Licenses In A Bid To Increase Road Safety
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New versus old license
India’s new Smart Driving License will be distributed in every Indian state in July 2019. Some states are already benefiting from the new style of license, which has a scannable QR code, built in microchips, and NFC technology. The new license aims to streamline the documentation process that all motorists in India must have. At present, most states use different colors and formats on their licenses, and they’re easy to forge and to duplicate. This is a particular cause for concern for road safety, with the Union minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, warning that “At present, what happens is that the guilty person who causes an accident flees the scene and gets a duplicate license. This helps him go scot-free.”
Safer roads
The New Indian Express reports that 25% of Indian motorists hold more than one driving license. But when law enforcement swipes one of these new licenses, they’ll be able to identify and deal with this issue effectively, including canceling the license or linking all relevant licenses together. Furthermore, they’ll also be able to identify if the driver they’ve pulled over is a frequent road violation offender. If so, they can take harsher action than they would if it were the driver’s first offense. This is important in reducing risks on the road, such as collisions. And as The Times India reports that just 40% of vehicles on India’s roads are currently insured, drivers need to be sure that they’re as protected as possible.
Putting drivers first
Statistics reveal that approximately 150,000 fatalities occur on India’s roads every year. However, India’s new Smart Driving License aims to significantly cut this figure. The new license will allow anyone who scans it to obtain information on the driver’s blood type. This is crucial when a serious road accident occurs, as it ensures that the driver receives the medical attention they require as quickly as possible. However, it’s important to note that it may take some time for all Indian motorists to acquire one of these smart licenses. As of July, all new licenses will automatically be sent in the new uniform format, as will license renewals. But the onus will be on all other motorists to sign up and apply for the new smart license.
India’s new Smart Driving License promises to make the country’s roads safer, to reduce the number of road violations, and to make a uniform process that works for all. However, it remains to be seen how long it will take for the millions of Indian drivers to obtain their new license.
