DRIVING LICENCES

Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Communications if he will consider the issuing of a more durable driving licence and including the date of first issue in it.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Our new driving licence is made of good quality paper (rag paper) which, if carefully handled, should easily last up to its renewal date, be it one year or three years' time, as the case may be.

It has been suggested, however, that our driving licences could perhaps be plasticized, as in the case of our identity cards. I have given instructions for such a feasibility study to be made. One problem immediately presents itself. Should we decide to issue plastic-type driving licences, it will be necessary to do so at a central place whereas, at present, for the convenience of the public, we have already decentralised the renewal of driving licences whereby a person can renew his driving licence on the spot at any of 15 specified post offices.

Another practical difficulty is that sometimes particulars in the driving licence have to be altered; for example, disqualification of the driver from driving a certain class of vehicle. With the plastic driving licence, it would be difficult to effect such an amendment on it.

As regards the question of the inclusion of the date of first issue in the driving licence, there are certain practical difficulties which must be pointed out. The present driving licence is a composite one authorising its holder, if he has passed the relevant test, to drive a number of classes of vehicles such as motorcycle, motorcar, heavy motorcar, motor tractor, etc. The dates of authorisation for the driver to drive the various classes of vehicles are likely to be different and it is not possible to record these dates on the driving licence without having to produce an oversized driving licence.

Should a person desire to know the date of original issue for personal reasons or for the purpose of providing prospective employers with references as to his driving experience, this information, if so required, may be obtained from the Registrar of Vehicles Department on payment of a nominal search fee of $2.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong (Mountbatten): Rag paper, as its name implies, is not a good paper. However, is the Minister aware that even up till today some police constables do not recognise this new licence? Has the police force been informed of the change?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: We are responsible for issuing the driving licences. Perhaps my colleague, the Minister for Defence, will follow up on what the Member for Mountbatten has said about the police force?

The Minister for Defence (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am unaware that members of the police force do not recognise the new licence. Can the hon. Member mention any specific case?