AACS: DIGITAL LICENCES ON THE WAY SO FOCUS TURNS TO EDUCATION

June 19, 2018: The humble plastic driver licence may soon be a thing of the past, with the NSW Government currently trialling Digital Driver Licences in Dubbo and preparing to roll out the program to select Sydney suburbs soon. But the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has emphasised the need for education to iron out the inevitable teething problems.
Last month, legislation for the state-wide rollout of Digital Driver Licences was passed and the changes will commence in NSW in 2019. Eligible people are expected to be able to use them instead of their current physical licence from April next year.
AACS CEO Jeff Rogut says convenience stores – responsible retailers of age-restricted products such as tobacco and lottery products – will be at the coal face when Digital Driver Licences are introduced and used by consumers.
“It will be critical in the lead up to the widespread introduction of Digital Driver Licences for all stakeholders – consumers, retailers, motorists and others – to understand clearly how their digital licence will work, the purposes it will serve, any restrictions on its use, and their responsibilities in transitioning to the new system,” Mr Rogut says.
“As an industry, we need clear operational guidelines so retailers can easily identify a genuine Digital Driver Licence and what constitutes a falsified one. Obviously, this will require the system to be thoroughly tested and appropriately scrutinised from a security perspective before being made widely available.
“Any restrictions on the use of Digital Driver Licences must also be made abundantly clear to avoid customer frustration and confusion for retailers.
“For this reason, we believe in the transition to a Digital Driver Licence system that consumers be encouraged to continue to carry their physical licences when seeking to purchase age-restricted goods for an appropriate period until the transition becomes second nature,” Mr Rogut says.
Teething problems will invariably arise, Mr Rogut says, so education and consultation with industry must be a priority focus for Government as the introduction of Digital Driver Licences approaches.
“Some consumers wishing to purchase age-restricted products will invariably leave their phone at home and be unable to prove their age. Others will leave their phones in the car, leading to a disrupted transactional environment and frustration among other customers,” Mr Rogut says.
“Then there are times when consumers are unable to pay for their fuel and leave their licence as security until they return with funds owing. These examples could potentially see retailers miss out on lost legitimate sales once Digital Driver Licences are introduced.
“These kinds of issues can be minimised through provision of a comprehensive suite of materials in stores, at the point of entry, at the bowser, on the fuel court, and in the broader community.”
The AACS is working closely with the NSW Department of Finance, Services and Innovation to minimise any negative implication for retailers and their customers.
Mr Rogut stressed the importance of education in the lead-up to the introduction to avoid a repeat of the Container Deposit Scheme in NSW, which has failed spectacularly due to a lack of consumer and business awareness, and inappropriate infrastructure to deliver the scheme.
“Without a properly coordinated, multi-lingual, appropriately funded education campaign surrounding the introduction of Digital Driver Licences, with the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders clearly defined well ahead of the ‘go live’ date, it will fail. It has happened before,” Mr Rogut says.
“The implications of new regulations can be particularly damaging to industry and their purpose can fail altogether if Government fails to properly consult with industry, and fails to commit to a proper consumer and business education campaign.
“We are hopeful that in the instance of Digital Driver Licences that the necessary preparation will take place to make the transition as smooth as possible.”
DDL – Quick Reference Guide
Further information:                                                                                             
Jeff Rogut
Chief Executive Officer
Australasian Association of Convenience Stores
Ph: +61 467 873
Media enquiries: 
Stephen Naylor
Wise McBaron Communication
Ph: +61 (2) 9279 4770