December 17, 2014

Drivers in the US could soon be using a mobile app as their official driver’s licence, it has been reported.

Transport officials in the American state of Iowa have revealed that the app will be available in 2015 at no extra cost.

The digital licence will be accepted by Iowa law enforcement officials during traffic stops and by security officers screening travellers at the state’s airports, reported the Des Moines Reporter newspaper website.

Motorists will be able to stick with their traditional plastic licence or swap to the new app, which is promised to be highly secure – with people using a pin number for verification. Iowa already allows electronic proof of vehicle insurance during a traffic stop.

Such a move raises the possibility of such technology eventually be adopted more widely – although there are questions about data and privacy, for example whether an officer would handle the actual smartphone or not.