Longer validity period for Provisional Driving Licences for prospective motorists

SINGAPORE – Come Friday (Dec 1), prospective motorists can expect a slew of changes that have been introduced by the Traffic Police regarding the issuance of learner driving licenses.

These include the extension of validity period for Provisional Driving Licenses (PDLs) from six months to two years, as well as the introduction of electronic PDLs.

"The longer validity period (of PDLs) will allow learner motorists more time to obtain their driving or riding licences," said the police in a press statement on Thursday

With the introduction of electronic PDLs, learner motorists will be able to submit their applications online via http://www.police.gov.sg/e-services or the Police@SG mobile application.

It will no longer be necessary for learner motorists to carry around a paper copy of their PDLs.

Instead, driving instructors or testers can "verify the validity of a PDL through a student furnishing the electronic status of their PDL," said the statement.

Eyesight test for applicants, which is currently carried out by the Traffic Police, will be conducted by driving centres when applicants enroll for their lessons in future.

The statement added: "Existing road safety measures concerning PDL holders remain in place. For instance, PDL holders are only permitted to drive under the supervision of a licensed driving instructor".

The new measures will also affect elderly PDL applicants. Motorists 65-years and above will be required to pass a medical examination when applying or renewing their PDLs to ensure they are both physically and mentally fit to operate vehicles safely on the roads.

A medical practitioner will review the elderly applicants' medical history, vision, hearing and mobility.

The police highlighted that those 65-years and above who have already met the medical examination requirements to hold a Qualified Driving Licence of another vehicle class need not undergo this medical examination.

Earlier in the year, it was also announced that simulation training will be made compulsory for all learner drivers come 2019.

Trials for the simulation training, catered to local weather and traffic conditions, will start in the first quarter of next year at all three driving schools in Singapore.

Learners — regardless of whether they are enrolled in a driving school or taught by a private driving instructor — must attend the training before they can book a date for the practical test.