EDITORIAL | There must be a more efficient way of renewing a driver’s licence

In this day and age, it is befuddling why the road traffic authorities have not figured out a way of modernising the driver’s licence renewal system, given the advancement of technology.

In Gauteng in particular, drivers are having to contend with a primitive system which requires them to jump through hoops to renew their licences, including standing in long queues and sometimes having to visit the relevant offices more than once. This comes at a cost to both the economy and individuals affected.

The people seeking to renew their licences are essentially citizens who want to comply with the law. It is, therefore, not in the interests of government or society to frustrate and turn into criminals, citizens who merely want to do the right thing.

With just 1.2-million expired licences having been renewed, out of 2.8-million, it is likely that there is a large number of drivers using expired licences on our roads, which is illegal.

It is the height of irony that it is the authorities themselves, through their ineptness, who frustrate compliance with the law.  

We should by now have modernised the system so that drivers had the option of testing with their optometrist and submitting their applications electronically, instead of having to doing so physically.

If the renewal of licences were about testing familiarity with a perhaps changed highway code, the rationale might be understandable. In this case it seems to be basically about testing drivers’ eyesight.

We should by now have modernised the system so that drivers had the option of testing with their optometrist and submitting their applications electronically, instead of having to doing so physically.

This would relieve pressure on a system that is clearly not coping with large number of applications it has to process. In addition, a longer renewing interval might relieve the systemic constipation.

Placing hurdles in the way of law-abiding citizens serves only to sustain corruption in the system, whereby applicants may be forced, out of desperation, to engage in bribery to get around the obstacles.

The state should by now have taken effective action to eliminate corruption in the licensing system, particularly at the testing centres.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation is kicking back against a suggestion that drivers be required to renew licences every 10 years as opposed to the current five.

If the corporation insists on a shorter licence lifespan, then it behoves it to eliminate all factors that are a hindrance and a disincentive for drivers to renew their licences, and to do so by honest means.

It is good that government had the sense to extend the deadline for renewals to the end of next March. But that provides only temporary relief to the driving public. A more long-term and innovative solution is required.