1940s Era Technology in currently issued documents
When Blythe the forger (Donald Pleasance) claims “I can see… I can see perfectly!” in The Great Escape, he is still far more convincing than claims of competence by the current UK politicians involved in the brexit fiasco.
Interestingly, the level of technology involved in the documents that he forges is virtually identical to some that I have been issued with as part of my own personal brexit preparations: the IDP
International Driving Permit - IDP
Since we are now a whole 27 days from the 29th March 2019, and yet still have zero idea what is actually going to happen then, I decided to address the now (potentially) pressing issue of Driving Licences.
The last time I would have had use for an IDP, I was too young to drive more than a bicycle. But since the UK driving licence is accepted across the EU because we are members of the EU, it may not suffice after 29th March.
Getting an IDP is simple. But you have to make sure you get the right one(s) of the three available: 1968 Convention, 1949 Convention, 1926 Convention.
Sadly the Llandudno Crown Post Office[2] was all out of 1926 Convention IDPs. Luckily these are only required for Iraq, Somalia, Brazil, Mexico and Liechtenstein (and a few other places, some of whom, like Liechtenstein, recognise the 1926 IDP but have not formally ratified the Convention). I wasn't intending to drive through the first four of these. Liechtenstein will, sadly, have to wait for a future trip.
The primary countries of interest for me are France, Spain, Italy, Romania. All but one of these are covered by the 1968 Convention[1].
1968 Convention IDP
So here's the 1968 IDP. If it looks like WW2 Ration Book Technology? to you, then that's about right. Let's take a look at its security features.
Here are just a few security features absent. Most modern official documents have a subset of these:
- Intaglio printing
- Microprinting
- UV Watermark
- Ink Planchettes (full face, visible or invisible)
- Microprinted Planchettes (text or symbols, visible or invisible)
- Chemically Reactive Planchettes (responsive to alcohol or other chemicals)
- Thermochromatic Planchettes
- Visible Light Watermark
- UV Fluorescent Overprint
- Substrate Fibres (coloured)
- Offset printed fine-line/guilloche patterns
- Metalic Strip
- Eurion
- RFID Contactless Chip
- Laser engraving
- Multiple Laser Imaging
- Distinct UV 312nm and UV 365nm Features
- Coaxial Light Sensitive Elements
- Tactile Fields
What we actually have is thin grey cardboard with a photograph glued to it and and static stamp to “prove” that the photograph has not been changed.
Conclusion: Laughable
The country on my list which didn't sign the 1968 Convention? That would be Spain, who were, I suspect, a little bit tied up with internal strife at that time. For Spain, I had to get the 1949 version. And why should they bother now? EU licences cover the majority of drivers visiting.
1949 Convention IDP
Much the same, but with only 5 vehicle classes cf the 1968's 14 vehicle classes.
Even an almost-blind forger could knock up one of these in no time at all.
Taking Back Control?
So here we have the embodiment of “taking back control”. By getting myself these ridiculous archaeic documents, I can retain my right to drive. Of course, INSURANCE is a completely different matter, and we're back in Green Card hell again. Luckily I'm renting cars abroad for now.
Footnotes
[1] The Post Office have a very helpful page to look up which IDP you need for your own requirements. It can be found here.
[2] You need a Crown Post Office to get an IDP, but not all of them offer IDPs. You can search here for once which does - select “Refine Branch Services” and tick “International Driving Permits” from the “driving” section.