Updated Driving Permit for the Year 2013
The Austrian driving license underwent a significant redesign on January 19, 2013, incorporating advanced security features to combat fraud and improve verification processes.
The new design includes a transition from a paper to a plastic card format with an embedded chip, housing personal and biometric data. This change aligns with the EU directive on driving licenses implemented that year, aiming to enhance security and data protection across member states.
The plastic card also features holograms and UV printing for counterfeit protection, as well as a transparent, optically variable security feature to prevent photo forgery. A secondary photo in the form of a kinegram is included on the front, containing a reduced copy of the driving license photo.
The driving license number is engraved onto the card and is palpable through touch, ensuring its authenticity. Additionally, when tilted, the birthdate of the driving license holder appears on the photo, adding another layer of security.
The redesign was necessitated by the addition of new driving license classes on the back and the inclusion of 23 EU languages on the front. The new information website, www.fs-info.at, is designed for mobile users accessing the internet via their mobile phone, but it also works with a regular internet browser, providing information about the driving license security features and application process.
The new driving licenses are produced in a high-security facility, ensuring they are more forgery-proof. The printed text can only be perceived with a loupe, adding an extra level of security to the document.
This redesign marks a significant step forward in the fight against fraud and the facilitation of mutual recognition across Europe. The EU directive enforced in 2013, which Austria implemented, aimed to enhance the security of licenses across Europe to combat fraud and facilitate mutual recognition.
- The adoption of the new plastic card format for driving licenses in Austria is aligned with the EU directive on finance, signifying a movement towards improved security and data protection not just within the country, but across all member states in the European Union.
- The automotive industry, in line with advances in technology, has observed the incorporation of holograms and UV printing in Austrian driving licenses, being used for counterfeit protection and photo forgery prevention, demonstrating how technology has seeped into everyday life.
- As the transportation sector is increasingly impacted by advancements in security, the new driving licenses in Austria display a transparent, optically variable security feature and a palpable engraved number for authenticity, ensuring the industry's commitment to combating fraud and improving verification processes.
