The advantages of developing a smart card driving licence are reviewed. These include recording the driving duration of commercial drivers, payment of insurance, encrypted fingerprint information, a colour photograph of the bearer, a language code, car manufacturers' information, medical information, organ donation and next of kin. The card could also act as an identity card, a pass card or a personal data bank access card. If such a card was also the ignition key to a vehicle, it could prevent driving during periods of disqualification. Studies showed that cards with external contacts were unreliable because of surface wear and tear in normal use. Non-contact smart cards are described and considered more suitable. These could also be used to operate car alarms. If the driving licence is specific to certain vehicles, it reduces the potential for theft. Programming and reading equipment for the license is described. Optional systems that could be added to the card include an alcohol interlock system, a log, accident recorder, built in digital phone system, automatic positioning alarm, and remote stopping of cars.
Abstract