Provisional Driver’s Licence Tests To Be Taken Digitally From December

The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe has declared that from the 1^st of December the provisional driver’s licence (PDL) will now be computerised. This move is long overdue and it will initially roll out to VIDs (Vehicle Inspectorate Department) within Harare.

Details of how exactly the provisional test will work will be discussed at the Computerized PDL Indaba to be held at Traffic Safety Head Office on the 7^th of November.

Hopefully part of the computerised drivers’ licence test will also include booking those tests over the internet. The manual system they have right now is such a drag and I remember when I had to write my provisional test I arrived at 8 and only got an exam for 12 o’clock midday. There was also an option to come back the next day but that means more transport money, so I really hope people will now be able to book for those tests remotely either online or even via call if online is too much to ask for.

Why go digital?

This seems like a good way to fight corruption as VID has kind of become famous for a lot of irregular tactics if one wants to get any form of certification. Perhaps taking human beings out of that process will make it better. Recently I heard that some drivers wishing to sign up for Cassava Smarttech’s Vaya ride-hailing application are also being asked for a bribe and because these drivers will be in desperate need to secure their job and have their car deemed roadworthy some end up paying.

The culture of corruption at VID has become uncontrollable and these electronic measures they are putting in place can hopefully reverse that trend.