DVLA To Begin Smart Card Driver’s Licence Replacement
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is embarking on a drive to phase out Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) cards- plastic cards- from the system.
The exercise is in accordance with Road Traffic Regulations, LI 2180.
By this, PVC card holders are to present them to the nearest DVLA offices for verification and replacement for smart card driver’s licence.
This was contained in a memo dated September 4, 2023, which charged staff to enlighten clients who patronize their services.
The policy, the memo said, begins from now till March 31, 2024, when the PVC licence will be declared invalid.
The smart card driver’s licence will be issued to clients after they have undergone an eye test at any DVLA-accredited eye centre; and have presented their driver’s licence to any DVLA office for replacement.
The development has been criticized by the Member of Parliament for South Dayi Constituency, Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor.
The legislator in a social media post questioned the prudence of the directive.
“Is this directive economically prudent? Why must Citizens suffer another needless cost to replace their plastic Biometric License Card during renewal?”
This licence regime was introduced in 2017.
The smart card contains a contactless chip loaded with the owner’s bio-data and the driver’s personal information.
During its introduction, the Authority said it would rule out fake licenses as well as middlemen, popularly known as ‘goro boys’, from the licensing regime, Graphic reports.
