The rollout of digital driver’s licences in Queensland has picked up speed, with app downloads soaring after a technical hiccup earlier this week.
Queensland’s new Digital Licence app launched on Wednesday, enabling motorists to access their licences and other credentials on their mobile phones.
The state government has touted the new technology as the only digital licence mobile app in Australia that is aligned to international standards.
However, the rollout of the digital licence app was interrupted this week after some customers experienced technical issues.
Queensland Acting Director General Sally Stannard urged customers to be patient during the launch, advising people to consider waiting a few days before trying to download the app.
“We know it’s very popular right now, almost as popular as tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, and that is causing some delays for customers,” she said on Wednesday.
Some users encountered error messages as they attempted to sign up for the digital licence app.
“Something went wrong: We are aware of the problem and are currently working to restore services,” one message read.
The state government confirmed on Saturday, that as of 9am, a total of 98,002 Queenslanders now hold a digital driver’s licence despite a bumpy start on day one of the launch.
The Digital Licence Verifier app for businesses, which allows organisations to scan the digital licences of their customers, has been downloaded more than 78,500 times.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the app has undergone “rigorous privacy and information security testing” to ensure the protection of personal information.
“We worked with our counterparts in other Australian states that have Digital Licences, to ensure we learnt from the way they developed and released their apps,” he said in a statement.
“Queensland’s Digital Licence app will set the standard for mobile driver licence apps across Australia and the world, and is yet another way that Queensland continues to be an innovative pioneer in the digital space.”
The technology had undergone a trial in Townsville and on the Fraser Coast prior to the rollout on Wednesday.
However, the trial in Townsville was delayed from the end of 2022 until April this year to ensure ample cyber security testing following the Optus and Medibank data breaches.
While the digital licence enables motorists to leave their physical cards at home, the app is not compulsory.
The technology is available for motorists with an eligible Queensland driver’s licence, recreational marine licence, or photo identification card – which can also be stored on the app.
On Wednesday, the app had been downloaded more than 15,000 times.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads had warned of potential delays on the app on Wednesday, and thanked customers for their understanding.
“We’re aware some of you are experiencing delays downloading the app, and are doing everything we can do speed up the experience,” the department said on X, formerly Twitter.
“We ask for your patience as we work to resolve the issue as swiftly as possible.”
Queensland now joins other states with digital licence technology like New South Wales and South Australia, with Victoria to launch its own version of the app by 2024.
Motorists can download the new Queensland Digital Licence app in the iOS or Android app stores.
(Sky News)
