Britons are divided over the government’s decision to introduce digital driving licenses later this year. According to recent data from motoring experts at one of the most famous British car insurance companies, 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 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.
However, the digital driving license isn’t set to be mandatory, and the government is still issuing physical permits. This will be reassuring for the 87% of Brits who prefer a physical license.
Another primary 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.
Meanwhile, a quarter of Brits admitted they preferred things as they were and were reluctant to change.
The final quarter of those surveyed had reasons to be optimistic, with 25% of Brits believing that the changes wouldn’t cause any issues and could prove handy for carrying ID while saving time and money.
The UK isn’t the first country to introduce digital licenses; similar initiatives exist in Australia, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway.
The European Union also requires 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 one year, costing drivers more than £20 million.
The technology is designed to provide more security for users. It uses features 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 regarding their opinions on digital driving licences.
“While legitimate concerns are raised for elderly drivers, the changes aren’t mandatory, allowing those who consider themselves less tech-savvy to continue with a physical license.
“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 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.
“All drivers must 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.”