Smart Driving Licenses to reduce fraud and illegal activity

Nepal has now started issuing its so called "Smart Driving License". The  (DOTM) Department of Transport Management has been bringing its long-planned smart driving license and will eventually replace all paper driving licenses currently in use.

The latest issued driving licenses are very similar to bank ATM cards. They have in them an electronic chip which stores driver’s name, address, vehicle information and others.The DOTM has also moved all the old driving license data to a digital platform.

According to news reports, the department plans to complete replacing the technology enabled licence within three to five years. Till date, the DoTM has issued around 2 million driving licences, out of which around 1.5 million are estimated to be active. 

The introduction of the so called "Smart License" is said to reduce mismanagement among DOTM employees and other issues related to fake driving licenses. 

The DoTM initiative is part of the Information and Communication Technology Development Project signed by the government and the ADB in 2008. The $25-million grant project envisions helping the government promote economic and social development and reduce poverty by making ICT more accessible. While the data recorded on the smart driving licences will be accessible to all the transport offices across the country, linkages will be made available to the traffic police, police and insurance agencies, among others, so that they can get complete information about the driver.

Meanwhile, driving license applicants will have to give a fingerprint impression, get a passport-size photograph made and place their signature on the license card by visiting the transportation office. The bad news is this means that from now on people will not be able to get their family or friends to even renew licenses on their behalf.

The other bad news with this is the government now has more information to watch you. Drive safe.