Australia's first digital driver's licence roll out
Digital driver’s licences to become available in South Australia via a security-smart appSouth Australia will next month become be the nation’s first state to offer the option of holding a digital driver's licence.
The digital SA licences will be offered via the mySA GOV app and available for both Android and iOS devices.
According to SA Police and Road Safety Minister Chris Picton, the new digital licence option will be available to all classes of South Australian drivers including learners, provisional and heavy vehicle drivers.
The rollout of the digital driver’s licence in South Australia comes off the back of a successful trial of digital Proof of Age cards, boat licences, land agent and land sale representative registrations and vehicle registrations.
The digital licence complements the state’s traditional licence system and users of the app have been encouraged by the SA government to retain a physical licence.
So, what are the benefits of a digital driver’s licence? The app, developed by Adelaide digital agency Appvatio, enables users to securely store their pass or licence information and easily access it whenever they need it.
The app also has a number of heightened security features and generates a one-time barcode, which refreshes every 30 seconds, to prevent a fake licence being used. The same barcode can be scanned by anyone with the mySA GOV app including businesses and the police to check its validity. Bars and clubs can also validate the licenses for proof-of-age entry.
A feature called ‘Shake to Animate’ can display the time and date when the phone is shaken to prove the licence is not a photo or a screenshot. The digital licence will also display in low or no mobile phone coverage areas.
“I’m delighted South Australians will be the first in the country to benefit from a state-wide roll-out of this leading technology which will not only streamline licensing services but offer vastly heightened security when it comes to verifying licences,” said minister Picton.
The NSW government is currently planning its own state-wide rollout of digital driver’s licences in 2019.
South Australian residents can sign up now for a mySA GOV account and download the app from the mySAGOV website.
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