How come driving licenses are not produced on site when you pass your test?

Hitler_is_gas

When you pass your test, you are given a cert to post off to a crowd who process it and post it back.

When I was getting my ID card in college, I sat on front of a web cam, pic was taken, and a card spat out in 2 or 3 mins.

Would it not be effective and save government expenditure (and save people's money) if the just printed it there and then in the form of a nifty little card. I mean which is more expensive, the droves of people involved in production of a paper license, or one of these little machines operated by the tester at the click of a mouse.

http://www.prlog.org/10217737-digital-photo-id-card-printer.jpg

Even if these simple machines are not capable of producing ID cards with enhanced biometric security features, they surely have to be better than the joke of a license we have in this country made of laminated paper.


Discuss

Rant /

Hitler_is_gas

Furthermore, should the application fee for a license not be included in the fee for doing the test, which I believe is in the ballpark of a ton now

drunkmonkey

Efficiencies in the public service mean job losses. Do you want job losses so you don't have to post away something?

Guy:Incognito

If nothign else , having loads of places being able to make licences could make forgeries very easy to get. How many test centres are there?

the_syco

Hitler_is_gas wrote: »

Furthermore, should the application fee for a license not be included in the fee for doing the test, which I believe is in the ballpark of a ton now

And if you fail the test? What then? A refund?

old_aussie

In Oz if you pass your license test you get your license 5 mins later.

Hitler_is_gas

the_syco wrote: »

And if you fail the test? What then? A refund?

Don't be facetious, I'm just saying that IF you pass, you shouldn't be charged extra for a license.

Foxhole Norman

Down in Cork you can get your license on the same day. The Cork Motor Tax Office issues the license on the spot if you have everything in order. Its quite handy.

drunkmonkey

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Efficiencies in the public service mean job losses. Do you want job losses so you don't have to post away something?

yes, added bonus of reducing the PS bill

Red Alert

The civil service at large hates efficiency. At the very least, your licence should come to you in the post automatically without having to "apply" for it after passing your test.

dudara

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Efficiencies in the public service mean job losses. Do you want job losses so you don't have to post away something?

The OP's idea is quite smart, and the comment above shows why it would be resisted. If driving licenses could be produced at test centers, then what would happen to the workers in the Motor Tax Offices? Efficiency is not a word that fits naturally in the public sector.

It does illustrate the fact that all "driving-related" public sector jobs (i.e. test centres, RSA, Shannon & motor tax offices) should be combined into a single operation, centralized as much as is reasonable.

Milk & Honey

Hitler_is_gas wrote: »

When you pass your test, you are given a cert to post off to a crowd who process it and post it back.

When I was getting my ID card in college, I sat on front of a web cam, pic was taken, and a card spat out in 2 or 3 mins.

Would it not be effective and save government expenditure (and save people's money) if the just printed it there and then in the form of a nifty little card. I mean which is more expensive, the droves of people involved in production of a paper license, or one of these little machines operated by the tester at the click of a mouse.

http://www.prlog.org/10217737-digital-photo-id-card-printer.jpg

Even if these simple machines are not capable of producing ID cards with enhanced biometric security features, they surely have to be better than the joke of a license we have in this country made of laminated paper.


Discuss

Rant /

Licences need to be renewed eventually. Test centres would not be handling renewals so there would be duplication.

cml387

When I got my license I was so happy I didn't care if it had to be carried by yaks from Nepal.

Tigger

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Down in Cork you can get your license on the same day. The Cork Motor Tax Office issues the license on the spot if you have everything in order. Its quite handy.

same in tubbercurry sligo

Tigger

Milk & Honey wrote: »

Licences need to be renewed eventually. Test centres would not be handling renewals so there would be duplication.

they could do renewals

murphaph

Milk & Honey wrote: »

Licences need to be renewed eventually

Not my German one :P

On a serious note, there is absolutely plenty of scope for efficiencies that deliver better, faster services to the end user but as already mentioned, the public sector is generally inefficient with some exceptions.