Organ donor preference in new driver permits

New driver’s permits in the Republic of Cyprus will include organ donor information and other features, including security enhancements, a far cry from current licences printed on a piece of paper.

Within the next five years, 60,000 drivers each year are expected to obtain new permits made of polycarbonate material, according to Philenews. The intertwined layers of plastic make it impossible for fraudsters to swap document information or photos without completely destroying the document and making it useless.

Under the new scheme, drivers will also be able to indicate their organ donor preference on the actual card, which typically means motorists can check a box or indicate “yes” on the permit application that positively identifies them as an organ donor.

Organ donation can occur after an individual has been pronounced dead, including moments after fatal car crashes.

In many countries, a driver’s licence applicant is also allowed to skip the question rather than answering “no” whether he or she wishes to be an organ donor.

According to Philenews, officials from the Road Transport Department have decided to save time and avoid possible delays by launching a new tender process before a current public procurement contract with a Romanian firm is set to expire.

The new cards, a far cry from current pocket-size folded papers that include photos attached with staples, will also be future-proof for the use of microchips.

Currently no European country uses microchips chips in driving licences, while such a prospect would provide state authorities the ability to record additional information and training requirement updates for professional drivers.

The new polycarbonate cards are said to be preferred by government agencies due to the material’s optical properties as well as flexibility, while they are also durable and have both good impact and heat resistance qualities.

Agencies all over the world choose this type of polycarbonate card because information is laser-engraved in the card body while additional security features are enhanced through the use of multiple layers of plastic.

New biometric ID cards were also launched this week in the Republic of Cyprus, requiring citizens who apply for the document to provide fingerprints.