Driver's license

First German driving school in 1906, Aschaffenburg

Current EU driver's license, German version - front
1. Family name
2. Given name(s)
3. Date and place of birth
4a. Issuing date
4b. Expiry date (non-existent for German driving licences)
4c. Issuing authority
5. License number
7. Signature of bearer
9. Categories

German version reverse
9. License categories
10. Issue date of the category
11. Expiry date of the category
12. Restrictions (number coded)

A driver's license, driver license, driver licence, or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck, or a bus. In some jurisdictions, driver's licenses are issued after the recipient has passed a driving test, while in others, a person acquires a license before beginning to drive. (This is largely a matter of nomenclature—generally an official document by some name is required to undertake practical driving in either case.) Different categories of license may exist for different types of motor vehicles. The difficulty of the driving test may vary considerably between regions, as do prerequisites such as age restrictions and the required level of tuition.

History

The world's first drivers' Licence, issued to Karl Benz upon his request.

The first drivers' licence of sorts was issued to the inventor of the modern automobile, Karl Benz, in 1888. Because the noise and smell of his Motorwagen resulted in complaints by the citizens of Mannheim, Benz requested and received written permission by the Grand Ducal authorities to operate his car on public roads.

Up until the start of the 20th century, European authorities issued drivers' licences similarly ad hoc, if at all. The first locality to require a mandatory driver's license and testing was Prussia, on 29 September 1903. The Dampfkesselüberwachungsverein ("steam boiler supervision association") was charged with conducting the tests, which were mainly concerned with the drivers' mechanical aptitude. In 1910, the German imperial government mandated the licencing of drivers on a national scale, establishing a system of tests and driver's education requirements that would serve as a template for the licencing laws of other countries.

As automobile-related fatalities soared in North America, public outcry provoked legislators to begin studying the French and German statutes as models. On August 1, 1910, North America's first driver's licensing law went into effect in the U.S. state of New York, though it initially applied only to professional chauffeurs. In July 1913, the state of New Jersey became the first to require all drivers to pass a mandatory examination before receiving a license.

Identification

Because a large number of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have no national identification cards and because of the widespread use of cars, driver's licenses are often used as a de facto standard form of identification.

Many European countries and Canada require drivers to produce their license on demand when driving. In such countries, the driver must always carry their license on them when driving. In the United Kingdom, it is not necessary for drivers to carry their driver's license while driving. However, if stopped, a driver may be required to produce their license at a nominated police station within seven days. The police issue a form for this purpose, colloquially known as the "seven-day wonder".

Some European countries require adults to carry identification at all times. A driver's license is not valid as identification in every European country; a passport or national ID card must be carried at all times in those countries, whether driving or not.

In the People's Republic of China, the driver's license number is the same as the citizen's ID number (which is up to 18 digits long). In Hong Kong the driver's license has the same number as the HK ID card, yet does not contain a picture and is always given along with the ID card when being inspected.

Similarly, Saudi Arabia requires all drivers to carry an ID card in addition to a license and present them whenever requested. Using a driver's license instead is only permitted if the request is made for on-site inspection/identification purposes, especially at check points. Expatriates may be requested to present their visas as well.

License Alternatives (USA)

In addition to the standard driver's license and commercial licenses there are other types of driving identification:

Non-driver identification cards

In the case that a person lacks a driver's license due to medical reasons, a license suspension, failure to pass a Driving test, or simply personal choice not to drive, a state identification card can be issued by the DMV in its place which typically resembles a license and has the same security and identification features as a license but without extending driving privileges. Rules concerning this may vary state to state, but this can pass as identification for naturalized immigrants (usually stipulating length of stay by the expire date, or only valid for 1 year if no date is listed for expiration) An existing driver's license can be turned in, to exchange for an identification card (giving up the right to drive). Without such pre-existing card, two sources of identification must be given for the first time this card is made (usually requiring a small payment to be made). This card must be renewed at the end of the month in which you were born when you reach an age divisible by five.

Enhanced driver's licenses

Additionally, some states (usually ones with an international border such as Vermont and Michigan) are issuing Enhanced Driver's Licenses, and enhanced State ID cards. Enhanced licenses essentially combine a regular driver's license with the same specifications of the new Federal passport card. Thus in addition to proving driving privileges, the enhanced license also is proof of U.S. citizenship, and can therefore be used to cross the US/Canadian and US/Mexican border by road, rail, or sea, but not air (this will always require a traditional passport book due to International Civil Aviation Organization regulations). The enhanced licenses are also fully Real ID compliant.

On March 27, 2008, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that Washington's enhanced driver's license was the first such license approved under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative; according to a Homeland Security press release, the department is also working with Arizona, New York, and Vermont authorities to develop enhanced driver's licenses. Texas was expected to also implement an enhanced driver's license program, but the program has been blocked by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, despite a state law authorizing the Texas Department of Public Safety to issue EDLs and a ruling by the state attorney general, Greg Abbott, that Texas' production of EDLs would comply with federal requirements.

Licenses for different categories of vehicles

Driving licences within the European Union are subdivided into different categories.

In a number of countries (including United States, New Zealand and some provinces of Canada) persons who drive commercially (especially truckers and taxi drivers) are required to have special licenses. For taxicab drivers, these licenses are usually called Chauffeur Permits. In most cases, commercial truckers must hold a commercial driver's license or CDL. In India, a commercial driving license is valid for 5 years while an individual license is valid for 20 years. In the United Kingdom, one must hold a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) license to drive a vehicle with more than eight passenger seats for hire or reward, or a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) license to drive a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight (Maximum Authorized Mass) in excess of 3500 kg. Special licenses can also be required in order to transport hazardous materials. The cost of taking the series of tests and examinations to obtain these licenses usually means that an employer would subsidize their drivers.

Categories for driving licenses are standardised throughout the European Union, see European driving licence.

In India, people aged more than 50 years have to undergo strict medical tests in order to obtain a license. The license validity is 5 years and requires renewal every 5 years.

In the USA, Physically Disabled Permits, are given out to those who are under the age of 13 years. These permits are given out from the State Government to those minors who live with someone who has a physical disability and is unable to drive. These licenses are rare, and only 10-20 are given out each year in the United States.

Organ donations

Licensing bureaus in many countries add an organ donation option on license forms. Sometimes a small picture of a "heart" or the term Organ Donor is printed on the driver's license to indicate that the holder has agreed to donate his or her organs in the event of sudden death in a car crash or other accident.

In the United States, this is governed by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. In the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Ireland, willingness to donate organs for transplantion is also listed on driver's licences. In Australia, the system of notating organ donation requests on licenses was replaced in July 2005 with a national registration system and the issue of special cards.

Driver's license by region

Africa

Egypt

Citizens of all Egyptian governorates are entitled to a Driving License once they have reached the age of 18, to obtain their license applicants must pass a computer-based test on Driving laws and regulations & basic car mechanics where only if they succeed to pass they are allowed to take the driving test, aforementioned procedures take 1-2 days (at most) to complete.

Morocco

The legal driving age of Moroccan Citizens is 18.

Togo

The legal driving age of Togo Citizens is 18.

America, North

Canada

Main article: Driver's license in Canada

United States

Main article: Driver's license in the United States

Jamaica

The legal driving age in Jamaica is 18.

America, Central

Costa Rica

Every vehicle driver must carry a driver's license (Licencia de Conducir), which is issued by a special education department (Dirección General Educación Vial) of the ministry of transportation and public infrastructure (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transporte).

For this license to be granted there are three needed tests, practical driving (Includes driving a car in simulated streets), theoretical driving (A multiple selection written test based on booklet issued by the education department or after taken a special course), and finally a medical test performed by a medical practitioner that test eyesight, blood pressure and attests the presence of other diseases and behavior of the driver.

Every citizen can solicit a driver's license at age 18, after being issued by first time, the license must be renewed after two years, and every successive occasion after five years.

Besides this document the driver must carry the national identity card (Cédula de Identidad), however both documents use the same identification number, being the national identity card the basis of the driver's license number.

America, South

Brazil

In Brazil, a driving license is referred to as a Carteira Nacional de Habilitação(National Driving Card). Four tests are required before a CNH can be issued: a written test on the highway code, a psychological behaviour and logic exam, a medical exam (including a vision test), and finally a practical driving skills test.

If all four tests are passed, the driver receives a probationary license. The probationary license is valid for one year and allows the driver to operate any vehicle in his or her license class without further restrictions, however any violation of the traffic law will result in the license being revoked. If no violations are committed during the one year probationary period, a full CNH is issued.

Brazil uses the same license categories as the European Union.

Europe

See also: European driving licence

Oceania

Australia

Main article: Driving licence in Australia

New Zealand

Main article: Driver licensing in New Zealand

International considerations

The holder of a licence from any European Union member country can drive in any other EU country. Most countries worldwide will also recognize the licenses of citizens of foreign states wishing to drive as visitors. All EU member countries now issue licenses in a standard format, regardless of the language of the license.

The International Driving Permit (IDP) (sometimes erroneously called the International Driver's License) is a booklet which is an authorized translation of a driver's home license into many languages (especially languages with different scripts such as Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.). In some cases, it is obtained from a motoring organization such as the Automobile Association or the equivalent in the driver's home country. In other cases, it is delivered by the same government services that deliver ordinary licenses. The IDP has no validity except when used in conjunction with the driver's own license. The existence of the IDP is necessitated by many countries refusing to recognize driver's licenses written in foreign languages without accompanying translations.

The People's Republic of China at present does not recognize IDPs (although Hong Kong and Macau do) and requires drivers to get an additional PRC license before being officially allowed on all roads.

A minimum driving age often exists regardless of possession of a foreign license; an American cannot drive below the local minimum age in Europe, nor can a 17-year-old Briton drive in mainland Europe where the minimum age is 18.

Many countries have established a driver's license exchange arrangement after reviews of the foreign jurisdiction's licensing processes. Where standards in the other jurisdiction are comparable in areas such as medical standards, minimum driving age, and knowledge and road testing, an exchange (or honoring) of the foreign jurisdiction's license may occur. [1]

Issues when moving permanently from one country to another

Most license-issuing authorities require holders of "foreign" licenses taking up residence in their jurisdiction to obtain a local driver's license within a limited time (typically 6 months or 1 year). In most cases, the driver must follow the full local procedure for obtaining a license, but some jurisdictions have mutual recognition agreements and will exchange the foreign license for a local one without the need to undertake an additional driving test.

An exception is the EU, where licenses do not need to be exchanged since the introduction of the common EU-driver's-license scheme.

Canada

British Columbia has a reciprocal license exchange scheme for countries below provided the license is valid or expired less than 3 years ago  :

• Canadian provinces and territories
• United States
• Austria
• Germany
• Switzerland
• Japan
• South Korea

Ontario has a reciprocal license exchange scheme for :

• Canadian provinces and territories;

• Canadian Forces Europe;

• United States (applicants from Illinois, New Jersey and Vermont must provide a driving abstract dated within 6 months)

• Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland.

Hong Kong

As stated on the application form for direct issue of full Hong Kong driver's license(Rev. 1/2008), one can be eligible to direct issue of a Hong Kong driver's license provided that he or she must satisfy the Commissioner with documentary evidence that:

• one has a full driver's license (but not an International driving permit) during the past three years issued by one of the following countries or places : Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, People’s Republic of China (includes: The Mainland, Taiwan, Macau), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Republic of South Africa (together with Namibia), United Kingdom (together with Alderney, Bermuda, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey), United States of America.

• the driving entitlement(s) for which one is applying must be equivalent to the class(es) which are authorized to drive by the issuing country or place; and

• one's driver's license was obtained by passing the relevant driving test(s) in the issuing country or place; and

• satisfies one of the three requirements below:

• the license was originally issued on any date during a period of residence of not less than 6 months in the country or place of issue (one may prove the six-month residence with the entry and departure stamps on your passport, school transcript or employer's testimonial with employment period specified.); or

• the license has been issued for not less than 5 years immediately prior to the application; or

• hold a passport or an equivalent travel document of the country or place in which your license was issued.

United Kingdom

The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA), which licences drivers in England, Scotland, and Wales, but not Northern Ireland, exchanges full licences issued by:

• Northern Ireland,
• European Community/European Economic Area,
• Jersey,
• Guernsey,
• the Isle of Man,
• Gibraltar,
• Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada (by default, Canadian driver's licences will only be exchanged for licenses to drive automatic transmission cars, unless documentary evidence is provided that a manual shift test was passed in Canada), Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.

Consecutive Licenses Exchange

Theoretically as seen from the above exchange arrangement list, this kind of reciprocal license exchange scheme might become a backdoor for a person with a driver's license issued by a country with less stringent driving test system (or even through purchase or bribery) to exchange for a license issued by a more reputable country without the need of any driving test.

For example, subject to fulfilling the other license exchange requirements, a Pakistan or PRC driver's license holder can exchange for a Hong Kong driver's license first. Then exchange for a United Kingdom full license and in turn convert for an Ontario province license in Canada.

See also

• Commercial driver's license
• Driver's Education
• Learner's permit
• International Drivers License
• International Driving Permit
• Road-traffic safety

External links

• Information from the European Union in driving licences throughout the Community
• New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority