The DVLA is planning to use AI technology to help decide whether elderly drivers can keep their driving licenses or not. This proposal was announced during a new consultation, which requires more evidence into whether rules around driving licenses for those with medical conditions should change.
The report states that the DVLA “recognises the potential of AI” in helping to get through the backlog. which would speed up the service for motorists across the country. The report also reveals that current legislation prevents fully automated decision-making with rule changes needed if it were to be introduced. Although officials are looking into medical conditions across all age ranges, it is expected that elderly motorists are more likely to be impacted reports The Daily Express.The report shows the current DVLA casework around medical issues is mainly concentrated on the over 60s and over 70s.
The report read: “In DVLA’s medical and casework areas, AI in the form of machine learning and automated decision making could have the potential to assist in making decisions, speeding up the service to customers and reducing the training needed for some staff. “However, when the current legislation underpinning medical driver licensing was introduced, the rapidly changing future developments in technology were not anticipated.