“Smart” Driver’s Licences

The attacks of September 11, 2001 have led governments to look more seriously at standardizing licensing systems. As a result, the idea of a driver identification system for North America is being seriously considered. Such a system already exists for commercial drivers continent-wide.

There are about 18 types of biometric technology. They include finger imaging, facial recognition, iris scanning, retina scanning, hand geometry, voice and signature dynamics. This makes it possible for biometric samples to be collected for one application and not used for any other purpose. For driver’s licences, a Fingerprint Minutae Template Standard is currently available.

 The addition of biometric technology to the driver licence application will be a challenge. Further research is needed before decisions can be made. In particular, public acceptance will be important. The system must not be seen as an invasion of personal privacy.

Potential Safety Benefits

The suggested use of biometric technology to create a North American identity card for all drivers is of great interest from a safety perspective. For a number of reasons, the Canada Safety Council has expressed support for its implementation.

Currently, the records of Canadian drivers are accessible to police in neighboring provinces and states. However, drivers whose licence has been suspended sometimes find another jurisdiction farther afield that will grant them a licence. A biometric driver ID data base for police across North America could help prevent suspended drivers from obtaining a licence elsewhere.

Some drivers who break the law while in a different jurisdiction go scot-free. A North American data base would allow drivers’ records to include traffic infractions committed outside the state or province in which they are licensed.

Privacy concerns aside, in the event of a crash, a single smart card that combines the health card with the driver’s licence may prove useful. It could enable emergency responders to access life saving medical information.

If the proposed North American biometric ID is implemented, Canadian and American customs officials could also be authorized to accept the driver’s licences as identification at border crossings.

Anti-terrorism legislation has made many Canadians think about whether safety should take priority over privacy. While it offers great potential to improve public safety, a continent-wide biometric identification system for all drivers will also need to assure personal privacy.