Starting on Monday, Bermuda driver's licences will undergo a serious upgrade.

The Transport Control Department (TCD) will be offering new, redesigned driver's licences meeting international standards, as well as Government ID cards for those who do not have a driver's licence.

And a new computerised testing system is also already up and running at TCD, allowing those applying for a driver's licence to take the theoretical portion of the driving test on a computer. Both the system for the new licences and the new testing system cost around $50,000, according to TCD IT project manager David Burt.

“In some instances, we just had to stop being ‘unique' in the world and catch up,” Transport Minister Ewart Brown said at a Press conference held in the TCD waiting area yesterday.

“The new (driver's licences) are designed by Ivan Outerbridge of Eye-Designz and distributed by local vendor Alan Young, through Data-Tech Ltd.

“(They) are quicker to produce, more durable, and cheaper to issue than the previous cards.” The old driver's licences cost $6 to issue and had to be typed manually, causing longer wait times, while the new cards cost just $3 and can be done by computer. Savings to TCD are said to be about $60,000 per year.

“Additionally, TCD will issue the cards as an official Government ID card to anyone who does not possess a driver's licence for the cost of $15,” Dr. Brown said.

“What we are most pleased with, is that the new licence also contains numerous security features, such as micro-printing, images visible via ultraviolet light, and a holographic image of the Bermuda crest.

“With these new security features, our ID cards will be virtually impossible to accurately duplicate.

“As an added bonus, the new licence complies with new international standards for driver's licences and identification cards. Information on the ID card will be stored in a bar code on the back of the driver's licence. This will facilitate future applications and improve the level of service at TCD.”

While the new driver's licences will not be available until Monday, the new testing system is already up and running.

“Now, instead of paper, pencil and manual scoring, applicants for a driver's licence can take the test on an ATM-like touch-screen computer terminal that will automatically record the answers you select and grade your test,” Dr. Brown said.

“Each test is individually constructed in a random fashion from a database of over 250 questions. This makes certain that no two test applicants ever get the same test, and goes a long way in protecting the integrity of the tests by virtually eliminating cheating.”

Though Dr. Brown admitted that, in previous years, “the overall attitude of having to do business at TCD was bad”, leaps in modern technology “actually make you look forward to coming to TCD”.

Thanking TCD staff, particularly Director Kevin Monkman and Mr. Burt, he added: “TCD is leading the way in modernising how residents do business.

“As we move forward in this ever-changing world of technology, the Ministry of Transport is working hard to ensure that all of the relevant customer services within the Ministry are as user-friendly as they are at TCD.”