[sustran] Re: International Driving License: Nepal

Pguitink at worldbank.org Pguitink at worldbank.org
Sat Jan 13 02:25:20 JST 2001


Dear Rajendra:

I am not sure what you mean by 'issueing international driver licenses', so my
response is rather general.  Although ,any countries issue 'international driver
licenses', these are mostly for touristic purposes and based on an multilateral
or bilateral agreement to accept these licenses for temporary driving in a
foreign country.  However, the underlying document is your national driver
license: there is no testing of driver skillls or medical examination attached
to obtaining an international license, just a valid license in your home
country.

Apart from that, some regions have agreements that an international license is
not necessary: in the European Union for example, there is a mutual recognition
of national driver licenses from the country in which you live.  This residence
requirement is important, however, because if you move permanently to another
country, you will have to obtain a driver license in that country, which can be
'just' an administrative procedure, or include a test of skills, medical, etc.

Since the international driver licenses are based on the underlying national
driver licensing system, I do not see much of a contribution to improving
traffic safety through this system, but maybe somebody can correct me?

best regards,

Paul Guitink
Sr. Transport Specialist
Latin America and the Caribbean Region
The World Bank



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