WHY DO YOU NEED A DRIVER’S LICENSE?

What is a driver’s license?

A driver’s license is an official permission given to a person to legally drive a car on a public road usually after passing a driving test

And it comes in the form of a plastic card in a shape and size resembling the famous ATM cards, Debit cards etc.

Different jurisdictions have varying laws concerning the issuance of driver’s license.

Some jurisdictions issue this permit after passing a driving test while some grant this permit before beginning to drive.

Laws guiding driver’s license in various countries.

There is no international law guiding the issuance of driver’s license globally so various countries have different laws guiding the issuance of

Driver’s license. Some countries and their laws shall be examined below.

China.

In China, the legal driving age is 18. The Chinese government does not allow foreign drivers use the driver’s license from their native countries,

A Chinese driver’s license is mandatory.

United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom stipulates the driving age as 17.

Canada.

In Canada, rules governing drivers vary between provinces to some extent. Canadian drivers can get a learner's permit at age 16 however,

In the province of Alberta, it is at the age of 14. Permits are usually held for 12months before the driver's tests can be taken.

Niger.

In Niger, the minimum driving age is 23.

Saudi Arabia.

In Saudi Arabia, males are permitted at the age of 16 years and 4 months and until few months ago, women were not allowed to drive.

El Salvador.

15 year olds can get a driver's license in El Salvador. Here, it is a cultural practice to informally teach your children how to drive at a very young age even as young as 11.

Why is it important to have a driver’s license?

Having a Driver’s license should be one of the important goals for anyone in any country who has attained the legal age permitted to drive. There are several reasons for this and they include:

1. It is a legal permit to drive: driving without a driver’s license is an offence in almost every state in the world. When a driver is pulled over by the law enforcement agents in any state while driving, the first thing which is requested for is usually the driver’s license to confirm whether or not you are even legally permitted to drive, if this license cannot be provided, the offender risks the possibility of legal penalty depending on the jurisdiction of the offence.

2. Official means of identification: a driver’s license contains vital information such as contact information and picture thus it usually serves as a formal means of identification when need be.

3. Emergency information: if a driver is involved in an accident and the first responders or the hospital is unable to get his contact information from the him, an access to the driver’s license will go a long way in helping them trace the driver’s family.

4. Trace a found purse or wallet: means of identification such as driver’s license should always be in a purse or wallet. In a situation where someone’s purse or wallet is missing, a driver’s license will serve as a valid means of identification to trace the owner of the missing item.

5. Permit to purchase alcohol: in an attempt to purchase items such as alcohol, the seller will most likely ask for a means of identification such as the driver’s license to ascertain one’s age.

6. Access to clubs: before access can be granted to some individuals with questionable physique in a club, a request is made for the driver’s license to ascertain their age.

7. Employment: in the UK, it’s estimated that one in six jobs request that the applicant has a driver’s license. Not having a driver’s license reduces one’s chances of getting the job.

Zainab