City of Wolverhampton Council is providing increased security for taxi and private hire passengers by becoming the first authority to offer driver licence checks by smartphone.

Contactless technology has been introduced into driver’s ID cards, meaning passengers can view a digital version of their driver’s private hire or taxi driver licence simply by tapping the card with a Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled smartphone.

This will provide reassurance about the driver’s identity and confirm to passengers whether their private hire or taxi licence is current and valid.

Details of all taxi and private hire driver licences are held on the council’s driver database. The database is checked and revised every day, meaning information sent to the passenger will be accurate and up to date.

Existing identity cards, used by taxi and private hire drivers across the country, are susceptible to being copied and used fraudulently which can pose a risk to passengers.

But the new contactless ID cards, which will be used by the council’s licensed private hire and hackney drivers, contain a range of security features which make them extremely difficult to fake.

These features include a hologram, optically variable inks and guilloche patterns, similar to those seen on banknotes and passports, as well as a number of other forensic features. 

Most importantly, the technology they contain will enable passengers, police and other councils to verify the identity of the driver as well as their licence status.

Many modern smartphones support NFC technology. It is most commonly used in contactless payments, to make secure transactions, exchange digital content, and to connect electronic devices. But this is believed to be the first time the contactless technology is being used to digitally verify a driver’s licence status.

The new contactless ID cards have already been issued to around 15,000 drivers licensed by the council and have been tapped more than 40,000 times. Those renewing their licences over the next three years will receive their new ID cards in the post.

Passengers are encouraged to tap their driver’s ID card, positioned in the front windscreen on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The card can be tapped through the glass, before customers get in.

Instant results will be available on the passenger’s smartphone. If the licence status shows as invalid, they are advised not to get in the vehicle and report the driver to the council.

If passengers are unable to use the NFC function, they can check the driver against the council’s online registers at wolverhampton.gov.uk/DriverRegister 

The cards have been developed in partnership with UK-based firm Euclid, which specialises in contactless cards and ID cards. The company works with governments around the world on national identity and passport schemes.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Once again, Wolverhampton is leading the way by using cutting edge technology in taxi and private hire licensing.

“We have worked with our supplier, Euclid, to create cards that use ingenious technology to improve the public’s trust in their drivers. This technology makes checking your driver’s licence and identity far simpler than calling the council and the security features in the card also make it much harder for potential fraudsters.

“Not only do the new cards offer extra reassurance, they are also more environmentally-friendly and prevent the need for tens of thousands of plastic licences to be printed every year.”

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