Following the government initiative to digitise drivers licenses (and other licenses) by the end of 2018, the process of driver health checks are due to go digital from the middle of the year.
Lead image: Mock up of a digital license app
The unnecessarily time-consuming, paper-based process is currently required by truck drivers, drivers over 75 and people with illnesses that have the potential to affect them while driving, such as epilepsy, sleeping disorders and diabetes. People who meet these categories are required to visit a doctor once a year in order to confirm that they are medically fit to keep driving safely.
Under the current system, affected parties have to deliver a doctor’s certificate either in person or by mail to have their licence renewed, a process that is soon to be replaced with an electronic system.
This process is being simplified into an electronic system that can be integrated into a GP’s practice software, allowing them to submit a form directly to the RMS licence review unit. The electronic form has been developed in partnership with e-health firm HealthLink, with an investment of $1.2 million from RMS. “This digital service developed by HealthLink means the 400,000 people who go through this process each year can now cross the visit into a registry or service centre off their to-do-list,” said Transport Minister Duncan Gay.
For GPs who don’t use specialised software to run their office, the form can be submitted through an online portal provided by HealthLink.
The new system is just another step towards the NSW government’s reported goal of digitising driver’s licenses by 2018, a process which will begin by trialling similar technology with less commonly used licenses such as fishing licenses and RSA certifications.
[ITNews]